NHS Highland responds to criticism of the number of patients on its Orthopaedic waiting list by Highlands and Islands MSP Edward Mountain – figures show there are more than 3000 patients on the waiting list for orthopaedic treatment with 523 waiting for more than two years for treatment at the end of June 2022
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NHS Highland has responded to criticism of the number of patients on its Orthopaedic waiting list.
Earlier this week Highlands and Islands MSP Edward Mountain described the latest NHS Highland figure as “staggering and unprecedented”.
The new statistics from Public Health Scotland show that there continues to be more than 3000 patients on the waiting list for orthopaedic treatment in the Highlands.
The figures also show that 523 orthopaedic inpatients had been waiting for more than two years for treatment at the end of June 2022 – a reduction of 89 compared to the end of March 2022.
In a statement an NHS Highland spokesman said: "Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Orthopaedics was a speciality that struggled to meet the statutory 12 week waiting time despite NHS Highland having additional theatre capacity and undertaking weekend operating.
"There is no doubt that the pandemic has significantly and adversely impacted upon Orthopaedic waiting times. NHS Highland is currently in the process of reducing our waiting times for all specialties, including Orthopaedics."
He said that the Scottish Government had recently announced new targets to eliminate long waits for planned care including:
• Two years waits for inpatient / day cases in the majority of specialities seen by September 2022;
• 18 month waits for inpatient / day cases in the majority of specialities seen by September 2023;
• One year for inpatient / day cases in the majority of specialities seen by September 2024.
He added: "Within NHS Highland, we are working incredibly hard to improve our waiting times for our Orthopaedic patients.
"The Raigmore elective Orthopaedic operating programme restarted on April 4, 2022. A second theatre was commissioned and has been operational since April 25, 2022, recognising that our immediate priority would be for urgent Orthopaedic patients who have the greatest need.
"In addition, we will continue to utilise and have increased capacity within the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital.
"We are also now in a fortunate position to be able to run one operating list each weekend day which we are using significantly for Orthopaedics. Also, some types of hand surgery have transformed from day case surgery to outpatient surgery which is allowing us to care for more patients, e.g. carpal tunnel releases.
"In the longer term, our National Treatment Centre will be coming on line in 2023 which will add further Orthopaedic capacity.
"We will continue to keep in touch with our patient’s currently on the inpatient waiting list, the Orthopaedic Department has a dedicated freephone number, 0800 028 0492, that can be contacted Monday to Thursday, 10am to 2pm."
