Millions in funding given to NHS services across East of England to reduce waiting lists

  • Anglia

  • Watch ITV News Anglia's Stuart Leithes talking to Joe Harrison, Chief Executive of Milton Keynes Hospital

NHS Services across the East of England will receive millions of pounds in funding in an aim to tackle waiting list backlogs.

Virtual wards, 3D eye scanners and at-home antibiotic kits are among new ideas to be trialled with the funding.

£160 million will be spent across NHS services including ones in the East:

  • Bedfordshire

  • Luton

  • Milton Keynes

  • North East Essex

  • Suffolk

Figures last month revealed the number of people in England waiting to begin hospital treatment had risen to a new record.

Hospitals are facing huge backlogs. Across the country, almost five million people are waiting for treatment - the highest number since records began in 2007.

The latest figures show that, at the end of March, there were more than 41 thousand patients waiting to start treatment at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge (41,315).

At the East Suffolk and North Essex trust - which runs Colchester and Ipswich hospitals - that figure was over 54 thousand. (54,406)

And at the Norfolk and Norwich, there were more than 63 thousand patients on the waiting list, a fivefold increase on this time last year. (63,602)

Despite the money on the way to help out, patients and staff are warning that lives are being put at risk. And some doctors are warning it's just a drop in the ocean.

Dr Rob Harwood, chair of the BMA consultants committee, who is based in Norfolk said big decisions needed to be taken about the future of the health service.

Tens of thousands of patients in the trial areas will be part of initiatives including a high-volume cataract service, one-stop testing facilities and pop-up clinics to allow patients to be seen and discharged closer to home.

Other trials over the next three months include virtual wards and home assessments, 3D eye scanners, at-home antibiotic kits, "pre-hab" for patients ahead of surgery, artificial intelligence in GP surgeries and so-called "Super Saturday" clinics, bringing multi-disciplinary teams together at the weekend to offer more specialist appointments.

A recent report by the British Medical Association estimated it will cost £4 billion to clear the backlog of patients in England in need of elective care.

The chairman of the Association does not believe "Super Saturday" clinics are the solution to NHS backlogs.