Norfolk and Norwich Hospital to break rules to cut backlog

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has decided to breach NHS targets deliberately to clear a backlog of surgery patients, but will not face any penalties.

NHS guidelines state hospitals must treat 90% of patients within 18 weeks of referral or face fines.

Hospital chief executive Anna Dugdale said the total waiting list was 5,078, with 185 patients who had been waiting more than 18 weeks.

She said the hospital scheme had the support of the local commissioning groups who have agreed to waive fines for the hospital's failure to meet targets.