Endoscopy Waiting List at Kent NHS Trust Drops by Over Half

The count of individuals awaiting endoscopy treatment at an NHS trust situated in Kent has decreased by more than 50% over the past year. In September of the previous year, nearly 14,000 people were on the waiting list for this procedure at the East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust. Since then, the waiting list has been reduced to approximately 4,900 patients, marking a 65% decline. The trust indicated that this reduction would enable patients to be removed from the waiting list at the same rate as new referrals are added, thereby minimizing delays. Dr. Kate Hills, the trust’s lead for endoscopy, described this shift in numbers as a “significant achievement.” She stated, “The difference this time has been getting to the root of the problem, and working with teams across the trust to find the solutions.” Dr. Hills further commented, “The list is never going to be zero as there will always be referrals coming through and patients waiting for surveillance, but to achieve our steady state within this timeframe is a significant achievement.” She also noted, “We have had high waiting lists before, and historically that has been tackled by having weekend sessions – but when we stop, the lists gradually build back up.” An endoscopy is a non-surgical medical procedure that allows a doctor to examine the interior of the body. It involves inserting a long, slender tube equipped with a small camera, known as an endoscope, into the body through a natural opening. A general practitioner may refer a patient for an endoscopy if they present with certain symptoms, and the procedure is typically carried out in a hospital’s dedicated endoscopy unit. Across the entire NHS, over 2.5 million individuals are currently on waiting lists for an endoscopy, with more than 45% of these patients waiting six weeks or longer for their appointment. Dr. Hills added, “We are now looking to the future, and how we can expand and develop.” The trust also has plans to manage patients in new ways, utilizing assistance from other teams to enhance and support endoscopy services.