'Significant' progress on ultrasound waiting lists

The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust said waiting lists for ultrasound tests had dropped

The number of patients waiting for ultrasound tests in an NHS trust's area has fallen by almost 5,000 in four months.

The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), which runs Royal Stoke University Hospital and Stafford County Hospital, said the waiting list had dropped from more than 15,500 in June to 10,563 in October.

It said patients waiting longer than 13 weeks had also been halved from 7,000 to 3,466 over the same time period.

UHNM board members were told this marked "significant" progress, made possible by increasing capacity, using the community diagnostic centre in Cannock and ensuring only patients who need a test are added to the waiting list.

"As part of that recruitment campaign, we have put in additional training posts in an attempt to try and resolve some of the difficulties we have in filling our sonography posts," she said.

"So while we do have some experienced people coming in, we're also training some of our own."

Chief executive Simon Constable said the trust's capacity was only ever as good as its demand management and urged colleagues to never take their eyes off the ball.

He added: "It's about working with colleagues on the right tests at the right time and ensuring those pathways are absolutely spot on."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.