More information is available on the visiting page
Waiting times
Emergency Department - waiting times
Waiting times for our Emergency Department (ED) are available on our ED website page.
Referral to treatment - waiting times
We have put a number of measures in place to reduce waiting times for patients following the pandemic and the sustained pressure on NHS services. We have provided additional capacity within the organisation, including extra procedure lists, additional clinics including at weekends, where possible, to reduce these waiting times. We also work with the independent sector and neighbouring NHS Trusts to increase the availability for patients to have procedures undertaken as quickly as possible. We work closely with the local Integrated Care Board and GP Practices to ensure you are informed of waiting times at the point of referral and are offered the opportunity to be treated elsewhere if waiting times are shorter.
The NHS Constitution sets out the following patient rights:
- to access certain services commissioned by NHS bodies within maximum waiting times, or for the NHS to take all reasonable steps to offer a range of suitable alternative providers if this is not possible
- to start consultant-led treatment within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral for non-urgent conditions
- to be seen by a cancer specialist within a maximum of two weeks from urgent GP referral where cancer is suspected. We are committed to ensuring where possible that no patient will wait longer than 18 weeks from GP referral to hospital treatment.
You can access the guidance and information about Referral to Treatment on the NHS England website.
One point of contact
- We have introduced new ways of working to provide professionals with one point of contact when referring patients to our hospitals to ensure faster access to treatment and all GPs should refer to the Referral Management Centre contact details.
Earlier discharge from hospital to home
- Our integrated approach and closer working has resulted in more patients benefiting from early discharged home or with care closer to home. Find out more about discharge from hospital - leaving hospital when fit for discharge/home is best, going home, family and friends help us to get your loved ones home.
Cancer waiting time standards
We have seen an increase in cancer referrals compared to pre-pandemic levels. There is a significant focus by the Trust to achieve the cancer diagnosis and treatment standards for all of our patients.
NHS England has published new cancer waiting time standards to speed up cancer diagnosis and treatment for patients, which came into effect on 1 October 2023. There are three cancer diagnosis and treatment standards as below. You can access the nationally published performance against these cancer diagnosis and treatment standards for Wye Valley NHS Trust on the NHS England website.
28 day Faster Diagnostic Framework aims to deliver:
- an earlier and faster diagnosis for patients, whether or not they are diagnosed with cancer
- excellent patient experience, a holistic assessment of patient needs, and streamlined support across community, primary and secondary care
- increased capacity in the system, through more efficient diagnostic pathways
- support to healthcare providers to reach the Faster Diagnosis Standard.
You can find out more about the faster diagnosis standard on the NHS England website.
31-Day Decision to treat to treatment standard
All patients who have a cancer diagnosis, and who have had a decision made on their first or subsequent treatment, should then start that treatment within 31 days. Find out more about 31 days standard.
62-Day referral to treatment standard
Patients who have been referred for suspected cancer via any route and go on to receive a diagnosis should start treatment within 62 days of their referral. Find out more about 62 day standard.