NHS chief warns ‘we can’t hide behind Covid’ as waiting lists set to ‘get worse before they get better’

17.02.2022 - 17:01 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk

An NHS boss has warned Stockport’s health system ‘can't hide behind Covid’ as waiting lists for vital treatment look set to ‘get worse before they get better’.

Dr Cath Munro, clinical chair of Stockport CCG, told a governing body meeting that, while Omicron had taken its toll, there were also long-standing issues that needed to be addressed.

A report to the board noted a ‘deterioration’ in waiting times, due to the challenge of fully rolling out the vaccination programme before the end of 2021, combined with the impact of Omicron.

READ MORE : Covid hospitalisations continue to fall across Greater Manchester as infection rates plummet

Health chiefs were also told that staff sickness - both seasonal and Covid-related - was contributing to the problem.

The latest figures, for November, show the highest number of long waiters were in general surgery, gastroenterology and ENT [ear, nose and throat]. There had been a ‘significant deterioration’ in respect of the two week wait target for breast symptomatic referrals - where the GP does not suspect cancer - which dropped to 36.9pc compared to 72.2pc in October.

And the 62-day target for cancer treatment from first diagnosis was also missed, standing at 65.5pc, ‘mainly due to patients on complex pathways across multiple specialties who require additional investigations.’

Endoscopy waiting times were also said to ‘remain challenging’ although additional capacity has been 'sourced to meet demand'.

Dr Munro told the remote meeting that Covid had undoubtedly been a factor, but there were also issues that predated the pandemic by some time.

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