Patient Waiting Time Targets 'Stable'

Nearly one third of patients in Guernsey referred to an MSG specialist or for an operation now have to wait longer than eight weeks.

That figure is described by the Health Committee and the MSG as stable, but it's slipped 3% on 2022.

Both the MSG and the Health Committee (HSC) point to increased demand. Planned admissions to the PEH were up nearly 8% between 2022 to 2023.

Dr Peter Rabey is the HSC Medical Director:

"We cannot control demand for healthcare and there is no doubt that it will continue to increase as the population ages and more treatments become available."

Outpatient referrals grew by nearly 6% over the same time period.

The longest waiting times are for referrals for orthopaedic surgery and gastroenterology. Measures were taken last year to address these, with some success. The Health Committee used a specialist UK medical firm to carry out endoscopies at weekend clinics while the new, dedicated de Havilland ward has been steadily working through the orthopaedic waiting list and minimising cancellations.

Dr Rabey says these initiatives are working: 

"We have created additional capacity through our gastroenterology and orthopaedic waiting list initiatives, and this is helping to stem the tide. In the climate of ever-increasing demand, maintaining waiting lists at a stable level should arguably be viewed as a success story."

Dr Steve Evans is the chair of the MSG and says the waiting time figures can be looked at another way:

"What we've managed to do, while the numbers haven't changed, the length of time that people are waiting has decreased, and I think that's what's really important to the individual."

The figures come from an annual report on Key Performance Indicators, agreed between the Health Committee and the MSG.

Both parties point to successes. Targets are exceeded when it comes to the average inpatient stay, which is three days as opposed to a target of six, and, readmission rates post surgery are low.

Dr Evans says bettering those KPIs is important to patients:

"It is shows that even though our length of stay is low, we are treating people appropriately, we are discharging people appropriately, and we're getting it right first time. If you're ill in hospital you want to know you'll be sorted before you're sent home."