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- Talk
- 22/09/2022
- UK
The Feasibility of Achieving Elective Care Framework Targets for Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) and Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) in Northern Ireland
Description
This presentation addresses the urgent issue of waiting times for elective orthopaedic surgeries in Northern Ireland, specifically focusing on total hip and knee arthroplasty. Following training in Northern Ireland, the speaker expresses gratitude for the opportunity to present their findings, which are rooted in systemic challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, three main hospitals—two general hospitals and one specialized orthopaedic hospital—provide elective surgeries, yet they face significant scalability issues due to a historical backlog of cases.
The report cites the Department of Health's 2021 elective care framework, highlighting a goal to ensure no patient waits more than 52 weeks for treatment by March 2026. However, data indicates that, as of mid-2021, over 3,757 patients awaited hip replacements and 4,469 for knee replacements, with thousands added to waiting lists annually, far exceeding operating capacity.
Mathematical modeling was employed to project future demand and assess operational capacity under various scenarios, revealing that even at maximum capacity increases, targets will not be met until the 2030s or may never be achieved without significant investment and reconfiguration of services. The speaker emphasizes the dire consequences of not addressing this backlog, including patient mortality while waiting.
A prominent theme of the discussion is the ineffectiveness of the current political environment in Northern Ireland, which complicates recovery efforts and limits resources to rectify the healthcare crisis. Questions from the audience reflect concerns about resource management, the capacity of the private sector, and the feasibility of meeting health service demands. In conclusion, unless decisive political action, financial resources, and operational changes are implemented, waiting times for necessary surgeries are likely to extend well beyond the anticipated limits throughout the decade.