It was confirmed last week that staff at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) have reduced the number of patients waiting more than a year and a half for surgery by a quarter in a month, despite the busiest winter ever for the health service.
During Prime Minister’s Questions today, Gedling’s Conservative Member of Parliament, Tom Randall asked the Prime Minister to join him in congratulating the staff “Will [the Prime Minister] join me in congratulating the staff of Nottingham University Hospitals Trust who, faced with a challenging winter with 300 Covid and flu patients, as well as thousands of appointments affected by industrial action, have succeeded in reducing the backlog of those waiting more than 18 months for surgery by a quarter in just a month?.”
Tom went on to ask the Prime Minister about the redevelopment of both the QMC and City Hospitals “Will he further re-affirm the Government's commitment to the redevelopment of the Queens Medical Centre and City Hospitals, the second biggest hospital investment programme in the country?"
The Prime Minister replied: “I join [Tom Randall MP] in thanking everyone at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust for their fantastic work and I can confirm that we are committed to a new hospital scheme at Queens Medical Centre and City Hospital as part of our new hospital programme. I know that progress is being made and I look forward to seeing the project come to completion.”
Figures released by NUH last week show that the total number of patients waiting more than 18 months for their planned operation, including hip and knee replacements, hernia repairs and ear, nose and throat surgery, fell by 26% from 803 on 15 January 2023 to 591 as of 12 February 2023.
Speaking after PMQs, Tom said, “Our brilliant hospital staff at the QMC and City have worked tirelessly to reduce the waiting times for planned operations, despite several thousand appointments being affected by industrial action since the start of December, with many operations and outpatient appointments having to be rescheduled, and the Prime Minister and I congratulate them on that.
It is pleasing that Gedling residents are benefiting from shorter wait times and will soon be receiving treatment in a revamped hospital, with the City Hospital due to be transformed into a planned surgical care and cancer hub and the QMC being renovated with the addition of a new maternity suite.”
