Thousands of patients waited a year or more for routine treatment at North West Anglia Trust

The Royal College of Surgeons of England says “a huge, hidden waiting list is building” across the nation under lockdown.

NHS rules state that patients referred for non-urgent consultant-led elective care should start treatment within 18 weeks.

But NHS statistics show 2,108 patients listed for elective operations or treatment at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Peterborough area’s main hospitals, at the end of November had been waiting for at least 52 weeks – up from 1,933 at the end of October.

Across England, the number of people waiting a year or more hit 192,200, up from 162,900 at the end of October and the highest figure since April 2008.

The same statistics show 29 patients were waiting for treatment at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust’s mental health units at the end of November.

That was up from 23 at the end of October, although it was still below the 32 patients waiting as long at the end of November 2019.

At North West Anglia Trust, 36,216 people were waiting to start hospital treatment at the end of November – a three per cent drop from the end of October.

With the pandemic putting so many treatments on hold due to staff priorities, across England, 4.46 million people were waiting at the end of the month – the highest number since records began.

This was compared to 4.42 million in November 2019 and 4.44 million in October.

Professor Neil Mortensen, president of the RCS, said the figures show the “calamitous impact” of Covid-19 on operation waiting times.

“For thousands of people in this country a corrective operation is the best way to relieve debilitating pain and get them back up on their feet, back to work and enjoying life again,” he said.

“Many of us were complaining about the pain of the lockdown restrictions in November. However, we should remember all those people waiting for an operation who had their physical pain to deal with, on top of the pain of lockdown.”

Prof Mortensen added: “A huge, hidden waiting list is building up under lockdown.

“When we eventually emerge from this crisis, we will need sustained investment to treat all those who have been waiting patiently for treatment.”

At Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Trust, 97 per cent of patients waiting for treatment at the end of November had been seen within 18 weeks – up from 84 per cent a year earlier.

It means the trust met the NHS target that at least 92 per cent of patients be assessed within that timeframe.

Nationally, 68 per cent of patients waiting at the end of the month were still within the target time – up from 66 per cent in October, but well below 84 per cent in November 2019.

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “Despite 2020 being the year of Covid, nearly 20 million people received emergency care in England’s A&Es, while in November alone as Covid-19 was spreading more rapidly, patients still benefited from four million important elective treatments and essential checks on the NHS.”

He said the figures were a stark reminder of the “exceptionally tough challenge” facing the health service.