The latest figures from the NHS show that hospitals in Bristol have failed to hit targets set in every key metric bar one. The data, taken from November and December 2024, shows that the two NHS trusts in Bristol still fall behind NHS targets but in some cases pass the average across England.
The North Bristol NHS Trust (NBNT) and the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)’s statistics on delays were gathered and compared with the NHS trusts across England. The data considers A&E waiting times, waiting lists and cancer waiting times.
It found that for NBNT hospitals, which includes Southmead Hospital, 58.4 per cent of people were seen within four hours at A&E (according to December data). Out of 188 trusts which gave data, the NBNT ranked 175th in this metric. A total of 352 patients in December waited more than 12 hours from decision to admit, to admission.
The UHBW, which includes the Bristol Royal Infirmary, had a slightly better percentage of people seen within four hours at A&E, with 62.3 per cent. This ranked the trust 159th out of all trusts. 695 patients spent over 12 hours waiting in A&E.
The average across England’s NHS trusts was 71.1 percent. The NHS target was 76 percent.
What about waiting lists?
Data taken from November 2024 shows that the NBNT had 43,935 patients on the waiting list for a variety of treatments, from general surgery to cardiology and gynaecology. Of these numbers, 14,617 have been waiting for more than 18 weeks for treatment.
It means that 66.7 per cent of patients were on the waiting list for less than 18 weeks. The NHS target is for 92 per cent of patients to be on the waiting list for less than 18 weeks. A total of 606 people have been waiting for more than a year.
The UHBW had 62.8 per cent of people on its waiting list wait less than 18 weeks for treatment. This means that out of 54,998 people on all waiting lists, 20,448 have waited for more than 18 weeks and 1,180 people have been waiting for more than a year.
Despite this, both NHS trusts were above the average across England. This sat at 62.5 per cent.
The NHBT had 87.3 per cent of patients waiting less than a month from a decision to treat cancer, to the first treatment for cancer, according to November data. This is below the England average of 91 per cent and below the NHS target of 96 per cent.
However, the UHBW’s percentage of patients waiting less than a month from a decision to treat, to first treatment of cancer, was higher than the NHS target. 96.5 per cent of patients waited less than a month.
What has the NHS said?
A spokesperson from A Healthier Together (representing healthcare across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, including the NBNT and UHBW) said: “ We know waiting for treatment can be distressing for patients and want to reassure them we are working hard to reduce waiting times further and continue to prioritise the most clinically urgent cases.
“Both North Bristol NHS Trust and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust opened Community Diagnostic Centres last year, allowing around 40,000 more scans and tests to be carried out in the community. A new elective centre will also open later this year at Southmead Hospital which will enable thousands more planned operations, helping both Trusts reduce waiting times for planned procedures.
“In common with other areas across the country, health and care organisations across our area have been experiencing significant pressure throughout winter including a sharp rise in the number of flu patients. Members of the public can help us to help them, by using the right NHS services for their needs and supporting loved ones to leave hospital once they are ready for discharge.
“If you think you need help urgently but aren’t sure where to go, please contact NHS 111 online, or by phone, to be connected with the right service for your needs. Our local pharmacies are also on hand to help with a range of common minor illnesses. Please only attend A&E for serious and life-threatening emergencies.”
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director, said: “It is clear that hospitals are under exceptional pressure at the start of this new year, with mammoth demand stemming from this ongoing cold weather snap and respiratory viruses like flu – all on the back of 2024 being the busiest year on record for A&E and ambulance teams.
“I never fail to be impressed by the remarkable job that NHS staff across a range of services face in the face of current challenges, remaining compassionate, professional and doing everything they can to see patients as quickly as possible while often working in hospitals that are full to bursting. It is hard to quantify just through the data how tough it is for frontline staff at the moment – with some staff working in A&E saying that their days at work feel like some of the days we had during the height of the pandemic.
“That hard work and resilience from staff, alongside vital tools like surgical hubs and community diagnostic centres that keep planned care isolated from winter pressure, meant the waiting list fell again in November to 7.48 million, with the NHS delivering 5% more activity than the same period pre-pandemic. As the incredibly busy winter continues and hospitals clearly experience intense pressure, please do continue to only use 999 and A&E in life-threatening emergencies and use NHS 111 and 111 online for other conditions, as well as using your local GP and pharmacy services in the usual way.”
The Government’s Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting said: “In the past six months, we have ended the junior doctors’ strikes so staff are on the front line not the picket line for the first winter in three years, and introduced the new RSV vaccine. But despite the best efforts of staff, patients are still receiving unacceptable standards of care.
“Although this winter’s campaign vaccinated more people than last winter, this strain of flu has hit hard, putting more than three times as many patients into hospital compared to this time last year. Annual winter pressures should not mean an annual winter crisis, which is why this government is making significant investment in the NHS, undertaking fundamental reform, and acting now to improve social care. It will take time to turn the NHS around, but the fact that waiting lists are now falling shows that change is possible.”