A LARGE backlog of surgery patients at the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General hospitals has swelled even further over the last month, despite efforts to tackle the problem.

Concerns continue to mount over the number of patients waiting for treatment from the orthopaedics team, with surgeons said to be ‘unwilling’ to take on extra work at the rates being offered.

A manager is now set to meet with the consultants individually to seek a solution.

The number of backlogged patients, many of whom are waiting for hip and knee replacements, has increased from 106 to 125 since the last board meeting at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT).

This has again caused the department to miss the 18-week referral to treatment target, and cost the trust another £12,000 in financial penalties, on top of the £19,000 already incurred.

Bosses had considered sub-contracting some surgery to Wrightington Hospital in Wigan, but this move has been rejected in favour of addressing the delays in-house.

The problem has partly been caused by increased demand, but bosses made it clear last month that half the consultants also needed to up their workload.

Taking on extra work at NHS rates may not be an attractive options for surgeons, as many also carry out private work for firms such BMI Healthcare, which runs the Beardwood Hospital in Blackburn.

Meanwhile, one of ELHT’s stated long-term goals is to expand its orthopaedic work.

Some of it was lost to the private sector after procedures were sub-contracted out to meet a surge in demand.

Any ‘repatriation’ of this activity will have to come through patient choice however, and board members admitted this could come under threat if the current problems continue.