Fewer patients waiting for planned surgery - trust

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust said it had made a series of improvements

A hospital trust has said it has reduced the number of patients on its planned surgery waiting list by 20% in the past nine months.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, which runs Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford and Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH), also said no children or young people had waited longer than a year for treatment.

It said this was down to a series of improvements including a new theatres timetable, more outpatient appointments and new digital tools.

"It has been a whole team effort including theatres, anaesthetics and booking and scheduling colleagues," said Andrena Weston, from the trust.

The number of patients waiting more than a year for planned surgery had reduced by more than 75%, the trust added.

The PRH worked from a new high intensity theatre list, which saw 11 hernia procedures take place in one day, while more than 5,500 people were treated in a new planned care hub at the site.

"This is positive news for our patients as we know that earlier access to routine treatment can lead to a better recovery and improved health outcomes, enabling them to get back to their daily lives as quickly as possible," said consultant surgeon Joe McCloud.