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Modeling the Recovery of Elective Waiting Lists Following COVID-19: Scenario Projections for England.
Howlett, Nicholas C; Wood, Richard M.
  • Howlett NC; Modelling and Analytics, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, Clinical Commissioning Group, National Health Service, Bristol, England, UK.
  • Wood RM; Modelling and Analytics, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, Clinical Commissioning Group, National Health Service, Bristol, England, UK; Centre for Healthcare Innovation and Improvement, School of Management, University of Bath, Bath, England, UK. Electronic address: richard.wood16@nhs.net.
Value Health ; 2022 Aug 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1983584
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES:

A significant indirect impact of COVID-19 has been the increasing elective waiting times observed in many countries. In England's National Health Service, the waiting list has grown from 4.4 million in February 2020 to 5.7 million by August 2021. The objective of this study was to estimate the trajectory of future waiting list size and waiting times up to December 2025.

METHODS:

A scenario analysis was performed using computer simulation and publicly available data as of November 2021. Future demand assumed a phased return of various proportions (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75%) of the estimated 7.1 million referrals "missed" during the pandemic. Future capacity assumed 90%, 100%, and 110% of that provided in the 12 months immediately before the pandemic.

RESULTS:

As a worst-case scenario, the waiting list would reach 13.6 million (95% confidence interval 12.4-15.6 million) by Autumn 2022, if 75% of missed referrals returned and only 90% of prepandemic capacity could be achieved. The proportion of patients waiting under 18 weeks would reduce from 67.6% in August 2021 to 42.2% (37.4%-46.2%) with the number waiting over 52 weeks reaching 1.6 million (0.8-3.1 million) by Summer 2023. At this time, 29.0% (21.3%-36.8%) of patients would be leaving the waiting list before treatment. Waiting lists would remain pressured under even the most optimistic of scenarios considered, with 18-week performance struggling to maintain 60%.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study reveals the long-term challenge for the National Health Service in recovering elective waiting lists and potential implications for patient outcomes and experience.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Language: English Journal subject: Pharmacology Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.jval.2022.06.016

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Language: English Journal subject: Pharmacology Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.jval.2022.06.016