The NHS was struggling to keep pace with patient demand in the closing months of 2018, with waiting times across emergency care, planned operations and cancer treatment all falling well short of national targets, according to a comprehensive analysis by The King's Fund.
The most striking decline was seen in A&E departments, where only 85.1% of patients were seen within the crucial four-hour target in December 2018 – a significant drop from the 95% standard that the NHS aims to achieve. To put this in perspective, this meant that nearly one in six patients faced waits longer than four hours during what is traditionally the most challenging period for emergency services.
Planned care was similarly affected, with the 18-week referral-to-treatment target being missed consistently. The NHS standard requires 92% of patients to begin consultant-led treatment within 18 weeks, but only 87.1% were meeting this benchmark by the end of 2018. This shortfall represents thousands of patients experiencing longer waits for procedures ranging from hip replacements to cataract surgery, potentially causing increased discomfort and anxiety.
Cancer services also fell below the required standard, with the 62-day urgent referral target not being achieved. This target – which aims for 85% of patients with suspected cancer to begin treatment within 62 days of referral – is particularly crucial, as earlier intervention typically leads to better outcomes for patients.
The performance pressures were compounded by significant financial strain, with NHS providers projected to end the financial year in substantial deficit despite ongoing efforts to control spending. This financial backdrop helps explain why services were finding it increasingly difficult to meet demand, as resource limitations affected capacity across the system.
Whilst these figures paint a challenging picture of NHS performance in late 2018, it's important to note that the health service continued to treat millions of patients during this period. However, the consistent pattern of missed targets across multiple areas highlighted the sustained pressure facing the NHS and underscored ongoing concerns about capacity and funding that continue to shape health policy discussions today.
Source: The King's Fund