Orthopaedic waiting times improve, still below target

Friday 07 February 2020

Orthopaedic surgeons at the MSG saw more than 12,000 outpatients last year, as the island's ageing demographic starts to take effect.

The Medical Specialist Group has today published its annual report for 2019.

It shows that orthopaedic demand is increasing, targets for patients' waiting times are not all being hit and missed appointments remain an issue. 

MSG Group Chairman Dr Gary Yarwood said the strain felt on healthcare locally is only going to increase as the island's working population goes down. 

"During last year’s UK General Election the various political parties focused on the NHS and whilst promising different cures, the ills were generally recognised as the same: increasing patient demand outstripping limited resources," he said. 

Pictured: 71% of inpatients were seen within the contractual waiting time, which was an improvement on the years before but still well below the 95% target. 

"Here in Guernsey we face similar pressures for the same reasons; with our ageing population and medical advances inexorably driving increased demand. Whilst the number of people living in Guernsey will change little; it is forecast that over a 25 year period from 2010 we will see a shift from having four working adults to every one old age pensioner, to three adults aged under 65 for every two aged over."

"Combined with this shift in economic demographic is the fact that many significant medical problems such as cancer, heart disease and strokes are more common in the elderly."

In March last year, emergency funds were approved to bring orthopaedic waiting times closer in line with the levels stipulated by HSC's £18m service agreement with the MSG. 

It was announced in October that some patients will be able to have their treatment at a hospital in Salisbury in order to ease pressure on the MSG. 

"To give some context to the rise in local demand, our orthopaedic surgeons saw 12,551 patients in outpatients in 2018/19, compared with 10,405 in the previous 2 years; an increase of over 20%," said Dr Yarwood.

Pictured: Readmission rates at the Emergency Department are better than target, but waiting times have only been met 91% of the time, compared to a 95% target. 

"This upward trend in orthopaedic demand is unlikely to slow. For example, osteoarthritis is a condition that develops slowly over the years, so naturally the MSG has seen significant recent rises in demand as our local population ages. Not unsurprisingly the increasing number of patients seeking treatment has affected inpatient waiting times, which last year received much local publicity."

To help make the most of available resources, patients unable to attend appointments are being asked to notify HSC or the MSG instead of just not turning up. 

"Our teams work hard to provide the best service possible for the Bailiwick, and we are always keen to look at areas we can improve further," said HSC Medical Director Dr Peter Rabey. "One of the messages that our 2019 data shows us is an issue with missed appointments for both in-patient and out-patient services. These missed appointments result in a significant cost and loss of efficiency.

"Whilst HSC & MSG will look at measures such as automated reminders to support patients, it is important that we ask our community to make sure they let our teams know if they cannot attend an appointment to ensure we use our resources to their best possible impact."