All articles by Rob Findlay – Page 8
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CommentSharp fall in elective admission rate
September’s admission rate was sharply down on recent years. However, waiting list management recovered, enabling a slight improvement in waiting times to 20.3 weeks. That’s still well above 18 weeks though, and the trend remains up.
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CommentRevealed: The cost of restoring 18 week waits
With some guesses about the costs per case, I calculate recovering 18 weeks sustainably might cost £2.1bn next year and £350m the year after, if other pressures and enough mainstream capacity are funded. Or £4.2bn next year and £1bn the year after, if austerity continues.
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News18 week waits, August 2017: explore the maps
NHS waiting lists around England, updated for August 2017
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CommentNHS relaxes grip on 18 week waits
When financial penalties were lifted from referral-to-treatment waiting times back in March, I said that looser waiting list management might be the first clear sign that focus on this NHS Constitution right was being lost. This has now happened. By Rob Findlay
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NewsWaiting list over 4 million for a second month
Waiting times remained stubbornly close to 20 weeks at the end of July, the 17th consecutive breach of the 18 week target
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News18 week waits, July 2017: explore the maps
NHS waiting lists around England, updated for July 2017
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CommentThe case for separating 'hot' and 'cold’ facilities
There are arguments for and against splitting hot and cold facilities. How would you decide? This example from a real NHS hospital shows how careful modelling can lead to a clear recommendation. By Rob Findlay
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CommentWhat your commute can teach you about performance targets
Rob Findlay and Mike Davidge on how your journey to work demonstrates the difference between ‘common cause’ and ‘special cause’
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CommentAnalysis: Waiting list tops 4 million as admission rates slump
The waiting list has been threatening to exceed 4 million patients for a while now, and in June it finally popped over. A slump in the admission rate didn’t help, says Rob Findlay
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CommentThe problem with annual planning
In theory, the NHS has highly sophisticated processes for finance and activity planning. In practice they are rather less polished. So here are two changes that would transform planning for the better, says Rob Findlay
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Comment18 week waits, May 2017: explore the maps
NHS waiting lists around England, updated for May 2017
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CommentRTT waits better in May, but worse year on year
Elective waiting times improved seasonally during May, but the longer term trend remains for ever increasing waits.
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CommentFollow up outpatients and the clinical harm of delay
Everybody agrees that clinical priorities should come first. Why does this principle break down when it comes to follow up outpatients?
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Comment18 week waits, April 2017: explore the maps
NHS waiting lists around England, updated for April 2017
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CommentWaiting times top 20 weeks – and will probably stay there
The winter lull kept English waiting times below 20 weeks for the last few months, but now they’re back. This time it’s probably permanent, says Rob Findlay
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Comment18 week waits, March 2017: explore the maps
NHS waiting lists around England, updated for March 2017
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CommentWaiting list stays below 4 million for the general election
The English waiting list managed to stay inside 4 million, in the last figures to be published before the general election. It won’t last
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CommentHow common is late validation of elective waiting lists?
It is suspected that some hospitals might have deliberately delayed waiting list validation to achieve the 18 week target.
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CommentWhy letting the waiting list grow is a false economy
Letting the waiting list grow is like borrowing from a loan shark: a bit of short term relief, followed by years of risk and expense
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News18 week waits, February 2017: explore the maps
NHS waiting lists around England, updated for February 2017