Waiting times at Milton Keynes University Hospital
Recent BBC figures show that waiting times at Milton Keynes University Hospital are the longest in England.
The BBC figures show that 65 per cent of patients waiting for planned ('elective') treatment are waiting longer than the 18-week target. Across England, an average of 45% of patients are waiting longer than 18 weeks.
Why are waiting times so long in Milton Keynes?
MKUH have given us this background information.
Performance at MKUH has been impacted by:
- Growth in local population (1.04% growth year on year compared to 0.83% nationally)
- Growth in activity (compared to 2019/20):
- Urgent referrals up 80%
- Weekly cancer referrals up 70% (approximately 45-50 referrals more each day)
- Outpatient activity up 21%
- Elective activity up 25%
- Industrial action (strikes by consultants and junior doctors, particularly in the last three months of 2023).
- More patients with complex needs (particularly for long waiters).
What are MKUH doing to speed things up?
Plans are already underway to reduce waiting times, including:
- Putting in place dedicated elective surgery days for cancer and paediatrics (medicine and treatment for children/young people).
- Weekend elective lists started in February 2024 for:
- General Surgery
- OMFS (diseases affecting the mouth, jaws, face and neck)
- Urology (disorders of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate and male reproductive organs), and
- Orthopaedics (muscles, bones).
- A new mobile theatre, providing some day case general surgery, urology, dental and gynaecology procedures, opened in March 2024.
- Expansion of diagnostic services into the community. This includes Whitehouse Park as well as the opening of new Community Diagnostic Clinic services in April 2024.
- A dedicated Urology Investigation Unit, making sure patients can be diagnosed and treated faster, will open in April 2024.
- A second surgical robot has been purchased for Colorectal (affecting the colon and/or rectum) procedures and will be up and running in the next few months.
Are you waiting for treatment at MKUH?
If you've been waiting for hospital treatment, could you spend 5-10 minutes telling us about it? Everything you tell us is confidential. We share feedback with MKUH so they hear directly from patients what could be improved. For example, more support and information on managing your illness/condition whilst you wait.
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
