Chesterfield Royal Hospital Trust defies Covid-19 to hit its test targets

But with hold-ups rising across other parts of the NHS due to suspended services during the pandemic, medical experts have warned that some seriously ill patients could potentially miss out on cures

NHS trusts provide information on how long people have been waiting for 15 key tests at the end of each month.

The procedures are used to diagnose a wide range of diseases and conditions, including cancers, heart failure, sleep disorders and hearing problems.

According to NHS rules, after someone is referred for one of the tests, they should have it completed within six weeks.

NHS England data shows that, of the 2,454 patients waiting at Chesterfield Royal Hospital Trust by the end of March, just 22 had been kept longer than that.

It meant the trust was one of a minority to meet the national standard that less than one per cent of patients should wait six weeks or more.

Across England, the number of delays at the end of March shot up to 85,400 – the most for any month since the target was introduced in 2008.

At 10.2 per cent of those waiting, this was also by far the highest proportion delayed over the period.

Dr Jeanette Dickson, president of the Royal College of Radiologists, said the coronavirus will have a heavy impact on certain test waits for the foreseeable future.

She said: “While the NHS will aim to prioritise the patients with the most life-threatening conditions, some with serious illnesses have minor symptoms and so may be missed.

“Although we cannot give definite numbers, it is likely some patients with cancer may have growth of their disease while waiting for a scan, potentially losing their chance of a cure."

John Appleby, chief economist at the Nuffield Trust health think tank, also said the waits were a sign of things to come.

He said: “Given the NHS had not restarted routine work in April, this number of patients waiting longer for tests will continue to grow.”

The most common type of test to see delays at Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust in March was a CT scan – X-ray images of the body that can detect problems such as bone damage and injuries to internal organs – 113 people had been waiting at least six weeks.

A further 39 people experienced hold-ups for both sleep studies, which can help diagnose a variety of sleep-breathing problems, and an MRI scan, which produces detailed images of the inside of the body, and can help diagnose a range of conditions.

But Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said austerity and Government cuts to NHS funding meant people were already facing longer waits for tests before covid-19 made the situation even worse.

She said: “Rising demand, and increased waiting times are patterns seen in other areas of the health service over the last decade, after a sustained period in which the NHS was underfunded relative to the well predicted growth in patient need.”

NHS England recently announced plans for hospitals to increase routine operations and procedures.

But a group of 16 unions has said rapid testing, and ample supply of protective kit are among measures that must be in place for the NHS to be re-opened safely.