Shake-up at Oswestry hospital spinal services as figures reveal patients face long waits only to be discharged

Shake-up at Oswestry Hospital Spinal Services

Hundreds of patients from England and Wales suffering from back pain have faced year-long waits at the Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH), only to be told they do not require specialist treatment.

System Overhaul to Improve Referrals

Hospital leaders have been informed that the referral system for spinal problems will undergo significant changes to address these delays. A national NHS team from the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme visited RJAH in January and proposed a new “single point of access” system.

This approach is currently being trialled, with a planned launch next year aimed at ensuring patients receive “the right care at the right place at the right time.”

Surge in Referrals Causes Capacity Issues

At a board meeting on November 5, it was highlighted that there is a nationwide rise in hospital referrals. RJAH experienced a sharp increase from 4,500 referrals in 2018/19 to 6,802 in 2024/25, with 4,021 from England and 2,781 from Wales.

The continued growth is creating an imbalance between capacity and demand, straining hospital resources.

Concerns Over Patient Pathways

An official noted the discharge rate is “really interesting” at 32%, indicating that nearly a third of patients do not actually need specialist care.

“That would indicate we’ve got a problem with our pathways when almost a third of our patients actually don’t need to be here.”

Additionally, patients are waiting approximately 52 weeks to be seen in the outpatient department.

Summary

The hospital's referral system is being revamped to tackle long waiting times and a significant portion of patients being discharged without specialist treatment, reflecting broader challenges in managing spinal care demand.

Shropshire Star — 2025-11-10