Shake-up at Oswestry hospital spinal services as figures reveal patients face long waits only to be discharged

Shake-up at Oswestry Hospital Spinal Services

Hundreds of patients from England and Wales suffering from back pain have been waiting up to a year only to be told that specialist treatment at Shropshire's Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) is not needed.

Referral System Overhaul

Hospital leaders have been informed that the current referral process for spinal issues is undergoing a major redesign to address these challenges. In January, an NHS team from the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme visited RJAH to introduce a new “single point of access” system.

This system is currently being trialed and is expected to launch next year. Its goal is to ensure patients receive “the right care at the right place at the right time.”

Rising Demand and Capacity Issues

At a board meeting on November 5, officials discussed a national trend of increasing hospital referrals. RJAH has experienced a surge from 4,500 referrals in 2018/19 to 6,802 in 2024/25, with 4,021 from England and 2,781 from Wales.

The growing demand shows no signs of slowing, leading to a significant imbalance between capacity and demand at the hospital.

High Discharge Rate Highlights Problems

An official highlighted a concerning discharge rate of 32%:

“That would indicate we’ve got a problem with our pathways when almost a third of our patients actually don’t need to be here.”

Patients reportedly wait around 52 weeks to be seen in the outpatient department, exacerbating the issue.

Summary

The spinal referral system at RJAH faces pressure from rising patient numbers and long waits, prompting a redesign to improve access and ensure appropriate care delivery.

Shropshire Star — 2025-11-10