Buckinghamshire denies treatments as demand rises

NHS Buckinghamshire reported a steady decline in performance against the target since April. Latest available information, for July 2011, showed that 88 per cent of patients were treated in 18 weeks, below the national 90 per cent target.

Board papers for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire primary care trust cluster say the main specialties breaching the standard are trauma and orthopaedics, plastic surgery and ophthalmology.

In a list of actions taken to improve performance, the papers said: “Patients listed for low priority procedures have been reviewed and 64 were declined funding.”

A PCT spokeswoman said that among the procedures they had chosen not to treat were “cosmetic procedures”, treatments for snoring and sleep apnoea, bunion removal and carpal tunnel surgery.

She also cited carpal tunnel surgery as one area where rising referrals were putting budgets under strain, as it had links to both plastic surgery and trauma and orthopaedics.

Data for the year to August 2011 showed that overall GP referrals are 5 per cent above the planned level, and 5.5 per cent above the same period last year.

First outpatient attendances are 2 per cent above planned activity but 1 per cent below the same period last year. Total elective activity remains 4 per cent above plan, and the year before.

There were 261 diagnostic patients wait more than six weeks, against a plan of 82.