Shake-up at Oswestry Hospital Spinal Services
Hundreds of patients from England and Wales suffering from back pain have faced waiting times of up to a year at the Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) in Shropshire, only to be informed that specialist treatment is not necessary.
Plans for System Reform
Hospital leaders have been notified that the referral system for spinal patients is under review. A national NHS team from the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme visited RJAH in January to present a new “single point of access” model. This approach is currently being trialled and is expected to be fully launched next year.
“The goal is to ensure that patients receive the right care at the right place at the right time,” a meeting heard.
Rising Demand and Capacity Pressure
At a hospital board meeting on November 5, officials noted a national rise in hospital referrals. At RJAH, referrals have grown sharply from 4,500 in 2018–2019 to 6,802 projected for 2024–2025, with 4,021 from England and 2,781 from Wales.
“There’s no sign of that slowing down, and it’s creating a capacity and demand imbalance,” members were told.
Concerns Over Patient Pathways
An official highlighted that 32 percent of spinal patients were discharged without needing specialist care.
“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,” the official explained.
Patients are currently waiting about 52 weeks for outpatient appointments, showcasing the strain on the hospital’s system.
Author’s Summary
The NHS is overhauling RJAH’s spinal service after data showed long waits and high discharge rates, signalling a need for better referral and treatment pathways.