Barnsley Hospital’s wait times have improved across several departments since the peak delays of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The data highlights both past challenges and recent progress in reducing patient hospital waiting times, which has had a significant impact on the local community.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOI) request has shown that between 2018 and 2023, Barnsley Hospital’s average wait time in the Accident & Emergency (A&E) department averaged around 1 hour. 

However, the number of patients waiting over 4 hours saw a significant jump during the pandemic, spiking at 10,051 in 2022 before dropping to 8,739 in 2023. 

Dr. Raj Patel said: “Our hospitals were under immense pressure, but improvements like those seen in Barnsley show what can be achieved with focused recovery efforts,” 

“These improvements will have a lasting impact, ensuring patients in Barnsley have quicker access to essential care.”

The FOI data also revealed that “no patient waited over 12 hours from 2018 to 2020,” but by 2022, 97 patients experienced waits of over 12 hours, highlighting an increase in delays amid pandemic pressures.

The hospital’s elective surgery wait times fluctuated over the five years, reflecting a pandemic backlog. 

In 2020, the average wait for elective surgeries reached 18 weeks. By 2023, however, the average wait time had dropped to 12 weeks. 

The number of patients on the waiting list varied, with the highest count at 4,569 in 2022 and a slight decrease to 4,234 in 2023. 

Outpatient services saw significant improvements, with the number of patients waiting over 18 weeks dropping sharply from 3,210 in 2020 to just 447 in 2023. 

Average wait times for outpatient appointments also decreased, from 5-6 weeks in the pandemic years to only 2 weeks by 2023.

Matthew Wilson, 25, from Barnsley, said: “It’s great to see the hospital improving its response times after such a tough few years. My recent appointment was scheduled within weeks. It makes a big difference.”

“I am hopeful that the downward trend in wait times will continue, but we know there is more work to do. Access to timely care is a basic need, and Barnsley Hospital’s commitment to reducing delays is a positive step forward for our community.”

Like many hospitals nationwide, Barnsley faced surges in emergency visits and staffing shortages during the pandemic, which strained A&E services.

Lower wait times mean better access to timely care for patients, improved health outcomes, and greater satisfaction for Barnsley’s community. 

Looking forward, Barnsley Hospital may still face challenges in further reducing wait times as NHS facilities nationwide continue to experience staffing shortages and rising demand. 

However, this FOI data reflects Barnsley’s commitment to restoring timely care, a trend that mirrors the efforts of many NHS facilities as they work to recover from the pandemic’s lasting impact on healthcare services.

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