The shocking figures that reveal the crisis in Birmingham’s health service

Full story in Birmingham Mail, 1 March 2018

Shocking new figures reveal that waiting lists are soaring across Birmingham’s NHS, while health chiefs are being forced to find savings of hundreds of millions of pounds.

The figures show that since 2013:

  • The number of people waiting more than four hours in A&E in Birmingham hospitals has more than doubled.
  • 66% more cancer patients are having to wait more than 62 days for treatment.
  • 65% more people have had to wait more than 18 weeks to receive consultant-led treatment.

At the same time, Birmingham’s NHS is now mired in a financial crisis. NHS chiefs say they are being forced to find cuts, known as ‘efficiencies’ in NHS language, of £155.5 million this year and £87 million next year.