North East hospital waiting times and county data revealed in new report

Waiting times for patients in hospital and average travel distances have been revealed in a new report documenting information on North East hospitals.

The report, Attitudes to Hospital Waiting Times & Treatment has revealed that 54% of people would travel an average of 66 miles further than their local hospital if offered faster treatment.

Other information concluded that the North East housed 247,139 people currently on waiting lists for hospital treatment and that 24% had been waiting over 18 weeks since first referred.

There are also significant variations in waiting times across hospitals in the North East, and 76% of those polled were not aware of their right to ask for a different hospital after waiting 18 weeks or longer.

Health Compare founder Andrew Burgess said: “Waiting times for NHS-funded hospital treatment can vary across the country by up to six months, depending on the treatment, so it’s well worth researching your options, if you are to be referred or if you have already been referred and have been waiting over 18 weeks for treatment to start.

“Whilst our research shows that the majority of people were willing to travel further for shorter waits and higher quality rated hospitals, there is limited awareness of their right to choose or change their hospital provider in order to achieve this.

“As a result, many people may wait too long for their NHS care when they might not need to.”