Tempos de espera atingem níveis recordes

À medida que os tempos de espera continuam a aumentar para cirurgias electivas e procedimentos de diagnóstico, o que pode ser feito para resolver o atraso?

Os últimos números divulgados pelo NHS England, que abrangem o período até julho de 2020, mostram que os tempos de espera continuaram a aumentar rapidamente, apesar do número de novas referências permanecer baixo e dos níveis de atividade aumentarem.

Como ilustra o gráfico, o número total de pessoas em lista de espera caiu temporariamente em Março e Abril, principalmente devido a um declínio nas referências, mas está agora a crescer lenta mas continuamente. Mais importante ainda, o tempo que os pacientes aguardam pelo tratamento aumentou substancialmente. Em julho, o número de pessoas que estavam em listas de espera há mais de 18 semanas foi o mais elevado desde o início dos registos, com 2,15 milhões. Isto significa que mais de metade das pessoas que aguardam tratamento – 53% – aguardaram mais de 18 semanas pelo tratamento. Antes da pandemia, esta percentagem rondava os 13-14% do total num mês “normal”.

Além disso, mais de 83.000 pacientes esperaram mais de um ano pelo tratamento até Julho de 2020. Este foi um aumento substancial em comparação com o ano anterior e representou o maior número de empregados de mesa de 52 semanas vistos desde 2008.

Although there are some positives in the data, namely that activity levels in general and the number of new referrals have increased, there is still a long way to go. In July, despite a significant increase, elective admissions were at less than half of the number seen a year ago.

The number of new referrals has grown strongly since May, but remained well below normal levels, and it appears that the expected deferred referrals from the period March to June have not yet come through. Em um recente article in the BMJ , Neil Mortensen, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, was quoted as saying he was disappointed to see waiting lists having increased in July, two months after the NHS had published a road map to restoring routine care.

He said; “We urgently need to build up our hospital reserves if we are to see this winter through. Flu, together with continuing local covid-19 outbreaks, must not bring surgery to a standstill again, or thousands more will suffer.” This illustrates the severity of the issue and the lack of resilience within vast swathes of the UK’s healthcare estate.

The latest endoscopy data told a similar story. More endoscopies and gastroscopies were being performed, with activity levels more than doubling in June and increasing by a further 45% in July, but even so, activity remains well below normal levels.

The total number of people waiting for an endoscopy in July 2020 was around 216,000 – up by 70% compared to July last year, with growth showing no signs of slowing down. While the number of people waiting for more than 18 weeks has stabilised between May and July, the level is abnormally, and among these patients will be many whose wait continues to be extended beyond 18 weeks. In July, around 126,000 people – more than half of those waiting for an endoscopy – waited over 18 weeks, compared to around 12,000 a year ago.

These numbers are alarming, but not unexpected, and while it’s likely that activity has increased further during August and September, it remains to be seen whether this will have made a difference to waiting times.

At the same time, the figures indicate that we could be heading for a challenging autumn and winter season, and that catching up will be incredibly difficult. The slow recovery of the elective waiting list provides an indication of how long it could take to even discover the full extent of the deferred demand from the lockdown period.

One way or another, capacity will need to be substantially boosted if the NHS is to have any chance of reducing waiting times for elective treatments and procedures. Flexible healthcare infrastructure, such as mobile and modular salas de operação and procedure rooms, can provide a rapid and effective solution to escalating waiting lists.

What is also clear is that this situation will be ongoing for an extended time and needs more than a short-term fix. A modular building, housing an operating theatre, treatment room or ward, can be built close to permanent standard within a very short timescale, and can also be configured and finished to suit each client’s requirements. Such a building provides additional Covid-light space and extra reassurance for patients by offering a completely separate entrance and reception area, as well as a separate patient journey to that in the main hospital.