Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford MPs pay tribute to hard-working NHS staff and government action as hospital waiting lists are slashed

The number of people waiting for treatment at Staffordshire’s main hospitals has been slashed after months of work by two of the county’s Labour MPs.

Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell and Stafford, Eccleshall and the Villages MP Leigh Ingham have liaised with Ministers and backed the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust as it works to slash waiting times.

It means the number of people waiting for 52 weeks for treatment has been cut by almost 54 per cent and those waiting 65 weeks has been reduced even more, by 75.75 per cent. That’s 2,758 people who were waiting far too long for their treatment now taken off the list.

The hospitals have treated more people by using ground-breaking new technology and careful planning of operating theatres, but much of the success is down to pure hard work.

The progress at the Royal Stoke and County Hospital in Stafford aligns with Labour’s manifesto and policy pledge to cut NHS waiting times with 40,000 more appointments every week.

The Autumn Statement included major investment in NHS services to cut waiting times totalling £25.7bn and earlier this month the government published its Spending Review which included a record funding boost of £29bn.

Additionally, UHNM has received £3.1m from the government to become a regional research hub meaning patients benefitting from ground-breaking treatments and expanded clinical trial access.

The two Labour MPs have also been lobbying the government for funding for UHNM to allow the trust to invest in a single Electronic Patient Record System.

Dr Simon Constable, UHNM Chief Executive, said: “Thanks to the hard work of our staff, who continue to go above and beyond to deliver care in challenging circumstances, we are now seeing encouraging signs of progress.

“New technologies, including advanced robotic surgical systems, are enabling us to treat more patients safely and efficiently.

“HIT lists – which maximise the use of operating theatres for high-volume procedures – have also played a role in increasing productivity, as has the opening of new facilities such as the Day Case Unit and Staffordshire Treatment Centre at County Hospital, Stafford.

“However, we recognise there is still a long way to go. Many patients are waiting far too long for the care they need, and we are absolutely committed to driving further improvement.

“We thank our patients for their continued understanding, and our staff for their commitment to improving access and outcomes for all.”

Gareth Snell MP said: “I’d like to pay tribute to the hard work of the teams at UHNM in achieving these reductions.

“Our beloved NHS faces significant pressures and the people who work there are the most dedicated, skillful, passionate people.

“We were left an appalling legacy by the previous government. This is another example of Labour delivering on its priority pledges and building an NHS fit for the future.

“But there is still work to do. Our target is that 92% of patients should wait no longer than 18 weeks for elective hospital treatment. I’m looking forward to the day when Labour’s policy and focus means we are hitting that target.”

Leigh Ingham MP said: “I’m incredibly proud of the progress we’re seeing at our local hospitals – and of the sheer determination shown by our NHS staff to deliver it.”

“Behind these statistics are real people in our communities who have waited far too long for the care they need. While there is still work to be done to reduce waiting lists, this is a brilliant start. This is the difference a Labour Government makes – investing in the NHS, putting patients first, and working with staff to deliver real results.”