The NHS has cut waiting times for serving soldiers, sailors and air crew by more than 4 weeks, thanks to a targeted campaign to get injured military personnel ready for action quicker.
The Further Faster Armed Forces (FF-AF) initiative saw a specialist NHS central team help 20 trusts serving large military communities find ways to cut waiting times for serving personnel, during the first 6 months of this year.
The expert team worked with local clinical staff to identify blockages in care, review waiting lists and find practical ways to get patients assessed and treated more quickly.
The first phase of the programme focused on ear, nose and throat, and trauma and orthopaedics (T&O) care – the 2 specialities where the waiting list was largest for serving military personnel. Waits for this type of elective care can include everything from ear and sinus surgery to operations to repair damaged knees, shoulders and hips.
The median wait for ear, nose and throat (ENT) treatment fell from 16.9 weeks to 11.8 weeks in just 6 months in the participating trusts, while waits for trauma and orthopaedic treatment tumbled from 13.9 weeks to 9.7 weeks, under the new NHS initiative – an average drop of 4 weeks and 4 days.
Military personnel can face difficulties accessing NHS treatment because of the nature of service life. Frequent postings can mean moving between NHS areas during a course of treatment, potentially requiring patients to be reassessed or transferred to a new provider.
The results come as the NHS and Defence Medical Services continue work to improve access to healthcare for serving personnel, and ensure that the demands of military life do not create unnecessary barriers to treatment.
Professor Tim Briggs, Chair of the GIRFT Programme, NHS England National Director and Lead for the Further Faster Armed Forces partnership and Honorary Colonel of 202 (Midlands) Field Hospital RAMS, said:
“Those who serve our country should not face unnecessary delays in accessing NHS care because of where they are posted or the demands of military life.
“We need personnel who are fit and ready to be deployed and this programme has demonstrated this is achievable.
“By bringing in reinforcements and taking the right expertise to where it is needed, we can get patients treated faster.
“We’ve delivered significant reductions in waiting times in 6 months, helping patients receive treatment sooner while supporting the operational readiness of our armed forces.”
Surgeon Captain Nick Imm, Assistant Head of the Strategic Commissioning Team for Defence Healthcare and Senior Military Lead for the Further Faster Armed Forces partnership, said:
“Further Faster Armed Forces is supporting the deployability of the UK armed forces by improving access to NHS care, particularly in trusts serving large military communities.
“Frequent postings can interrupt treatment pathways, with personnel sometimes facing reassessment or delays when they move to a new location.
“The partnership between the Ministry of Defence and the Getting It Right First Time programme has enabled the care of serving personnel to be proactively managed, and it is encouraging to see waits of more than 18 weeks falling so significantly in trauma and orthopaedic and ear, nose and throat services.”
Work is continuing to assess whether the approach can be extended to other specialities and NHS trusts treating serving armed forces personnel.
Kate Davies, Director of Health and Justice and Armed Forces, said:
“Behind these figures are real people who have given a great deal to serve their country and who deserve access to care that recognises the realities of service life.
“Reducing waiting times means helping serving personnel get the care they need sooner, with fewer unnecessary delays or disruptions to their lives and service.
“This work shows what can be achieved when the NHS and Defence Medical Services work closely together to understand the barriers faced by serving personnel and find practical ways to overcome them.
“It also gives us a strong foundation to build on as we look at how we can further improve access, continuity and experience of care for our Armed Forces community.”
Minister for Health Innovation, James Frith, said:
“The brave men and women who serve our country should never be left stuck waiting for treatment. By getting armed forces personnel seen and treated faster, this programme is helping them recover more quickly and remain ready to serve when the nation needs them.
“I want to thank NHS and military teams for delivering these excellent results. As we work to drive down waiting lists across the NHS, this programme shows how targeted action can help patients get treated sooner.”
Minister for Veterans and People, Calvin Bailey MP said:
“Our people are the backbone of our Armed Forces, and they deserve the very best when it comes to their healthcare. The NHS has cut waiting times for serving sailors, soldiers, and aviators by more than 4 weeks, thanks to a targeted campaign to get injured military personnel ready for action quicker.”
