Low patient numbers make waiting targets a challenge for Aintree Hospitals FT

New board papers for NHS Knowsley show that the oral surgery, trauma and orthopaedics, and urology departments at the foundation all missed the target to treat 90 per cent of admitted patients within 18 weeks.

The ear, nose and throat, and general surgery specialties both missed the target to treat 95 per cent of non-admitted patients within the same time frame.

The NHS Knowsley performance report said that overall the trust had met these targets.

It added: “Ensuring that 18RTT is met by all specialties does however remain challenging given that very small numbers of patients not commencing treatment within 18 weeks can make the difference between hitting or missing the target in some specialties.”

For example, Aintree’s urology specialty scored 85.7 per cent against a 90 per cent target because one patient waited over 18 weeks.