United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust has been missing targets on A&E waiting and cancer treatment times for more than half a decade.
Bosses have apologised, saying they are not “performing as well as we should be” but say increased demand is taking its toll.
The last time ULHT achieved 95% of patients being treated within four hours of arrival at A&E was September 2014, the same month it surpassed the 85% target to start cancer treatment within 62 days of urgent GP referral.
Earlier this month it was reported that in October Lincoln County Hospital could only treat 64.2% of its patients within four hours. The England average was 83.6%.
Chief Operating Officer Mark Brassington said: “Over the past few years, we have seen a significant increase in the number of people attending our hospitals.
“We are seeing more patients than ever before coming through our three emergency departments, accessing cancer treatments and being referred for planned surgery.”
Figures from NHS England show how, in quarter two of this year, ULHT managed to get 81.78% of its patients seen for cancer treatment within 62 days – however, this is still short of the 85% target.
Between July and September, the trust treated 220 people, with 180 of those hitting the target.
Nationally, just 83.6% of patients were seen within the target.
“Compared to five years ago, we are seeing 130 more patients every week who are on a two week wait outpatient pathway – that’s an increase of 35%,” said Mr Brassington.
“We also have 28% more patients on a 62 day cancer pathway,” he continued.
ULHT chief operating officer Mark Brassington. Photo: Lincolnshire Reporter
“Despite these increases we are treating 200 more patients within the 62 day standard than we did five years ago.”
The trust has also struggled with achieving 92% of patients having planned operations and care within 18 weeks of referral.
The last time it succeeded was June 2016 – the England average passed the test in February of that year.
In September, 75% of patients were seen within the allotted period.
The average for England was 84.8%.
Mr Brassington said: “Although we are treating more people, we accept that we are not performing as well as we should be and some of our patients wait longer than they should to access some treatments, for which we apologise.
“We are not alone in seeing such significant growth in demand, and we are working with partner health and social care organisations to ensure our patients receive the appropriate and best possible care as soon as possible across all of our specialties.”
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Marc Jones, the re-elected Conservative Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said that his work is not done, as he’s looking forward to a further three years in the role.
Mr Jones won with a 57.9% majority of the poll from the first round of counting, with 102,813 votes from a 31% turnout. A total of 177,528 votes were placed county-wide.
The nearest candidate was Labour’s Rosanne Kirk, with a 19% share of the votes, with Lincolnshire Independent David Williams securing the third spot with 10%.
The breakdown of the votes cast on Thursday, May 6, and counted on Saturday, may 8, was:
Marc Jones (Conservative) – 102,813
Rosanne Kirk (Labour) – 34,310
David Williams (Lincolnshire Independent) – 18,375
Ross Pepper (Liberal Democrats) – 10,172
Peter Escreet (Reform UK) – 6,101
Marc Jones: “More work to do”
“It’s very gratifying to have concluded today on the first count, that was a really positive thing for what I’ve delivered so far,” said Mr Jones.
“But I’m under no illusions having spoken to many around the county there’s an awful lot more work to do.”
He said he wanted to assure the public that “nothing was taken for granted”.
Rosie Kirk – Labour – 2nd place
Labour’s candidate Rosie Kirk said she was “thrilled for her party” across all three elections that had taken place in Lincolnshire this week.
“The votes that we got was incredible. Our message got through and to actually come second in a Conservative county is really great,” she said.
However, she added that there were “lots of questions that still need to be asked” and promised to keep up her scrutiny of Marc in his role.
Ross Pepper – Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrat candidate Ross Pepper said the result was not “entirely unexpected”.
However, he said he was proud of the three Liberal Democrat councillors that had won seats in the local elections at Lincolnshire County and City of Lincoln Councils.
“I’m ready to work with them for a better Lincolnshire and a better Lincoln,” he said.
“In a Conservative heavy county we did a really good job of getting the Liberal Democrat message out there… and we continue pushing that message through local campaigning in the future.”
David Williams – Lincolnshire Independents
David Williams, the Lincolnshire Independents PCC candidate congratulated Marc Jones on his victory but said it is “not a surprising outcome”.
“I’m really pleased to have run for the post, because if I hadn’t have had a go to do a job that I really would have relished then I would have looked back and regretted not having taking the opportunity.”
Peter Escreet – Reform UK
Peter Escreet, the Reform UK candidate also said the result “was as expected” but actually he was “pleasantly surprised,” saying that this is “just the start”.
“The real campaign is in three years’ time” where Mr Escreet wants to grow a majority.
Conservative Marc Jones has been re-elected to the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner role.
He won from the first round of counting with 102,813 votes from a 31% turnout.
The PCC oversees the strategy and finances of the force, and also hires and fires chief constables, who are responsible for the daily policing operations.
Mr Jones will be in the position for three years.
The breakdown of the results is:
Marc Jones (Conservative) – 102,813
Rosanne Kirk (Labour) – 34,310
Ross Pepper (Liberal Democrats) – 10,172
David Williams (Lincolnshire Independent) – 18,375
Peter Escreet (Reform UK) – 6,101
Here’s the live result announcement, the reactions and acceptance speech:
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