Milton Keynes Hospital with longest wait in England 'has improvement plan'

The hopsital's chief executive says it is using 106 extra beds to cope with an influx of "very sick" patients

The hospital with the "longest routine treatment wait times" in the country has an improvement plan, its chief executive said.

Patients should start treatment within 18 weeks but at Milton Keynes Hospital, about two-thirds are waiting longer.

Chief executive Joe Harrison said over the last year the trust "treated more patients than ever before".

He said: "I've already seen the plans we've have to go through and make sure we reduce these numbers."

Mr Harrison blamed the long wait times on increased demand although admitted "clearly patients are waiting too long".

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Speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio, Mr Harrison said the number of patients with cancer referrals had increased by between 45% and 50% a day.

He told presenter Roberto Perrone: "Can you imagine how much pressure that puts into the system? It's staggering."

The chief executive said expansion to hospital facilities, such as planned wards, would help the hospital improve its wait times.

There are also plans to build a new women's and children's hospital in the city by 2030, and Mr Harrison said he expects building work to begin in 2025.

The chief executive of Milton Keynes Hospital, Joe Harrison said it has been the busiest year for the hospital

He told BBC Three Counties Radio: "We know that the growth of our population is the fastest in the country.

"We need the physical buildings to treat those patients and the staff to be able to manage and look after those patients."

Mr Harrison admitted "we've got a job on our hands" but promised: "We will achieve a huge improvement."

He added: "A year ago the maximum waiting time in Milton Keynes was two years, it's down to 18 months, by the end of this calendar year it will be down to just over a year.

"We are reducing the waiting times overall, no question about that.

"Even though the amount of cancer patients has gone up we are managing to treat those patients as quickly as we possibly can.

"We will continue to reduce waiting times here at Milton Keynes."

• Listen: MK Hospital boss to tackle waiting times