CASH TO CUT WAITING LISTS IN HOSPITALS

HUNDREDS of people are expected to come off NHS waiting lists after a Government cash injection in South Bucks.

An extra £3.3 million has been given to Bucks to deal with long waiting lists.

The money is part of a Government grant of £288 million, which has been given to the eight health regions in England in an aim to drive down waiting lists for non-urgent treatment.

A total of £560,000 is going to South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, to open up extra hospital beds and a fifth intensive care bed.

At the end of March, there were 4,531 patients waiting for treatment in the South Bucks area - 351 higher than at the same time last year.

There are now 291 people who have been waiting more than a year, compared to none two years ago.

Patients who have been waiting the longest will be treated as a priority.

Roy Darby, chief executive of South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, told Midweek: "The Trust is pleased to be playing its part in this major initiative to reduce waiting lists."

He added: "It will be quite a challenge to reduce our waiting lists by the end of next March. But this is a big step towards getting back to the very good waiting list position we were in two years ago."

Buckinghamshire Health Authority met with NHS trusts across Bucks to agree what the priorities for the money should be.

The authority said when it decides where to allocate the money, it aims to ensure that regardless of where people live, or the hospital they are referred to, waiting times across the county are comparable.

It also hopes to spend the money on operations where early treatment can lead to the greatest health gain. These will include operations such as joint replacements, cataracts and cardiac care.

Jackie Haynes, Buckinghamshire Health Authority's chief executive, said: "This extra funding is very welcome.

"NHS staff have worked hard to contain waiting lists and their continued support is essential if we are to reduce waiting lists further."

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