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

Changes in Spinal Services at Oswestry Hospital

Hundreds of patients from England and Wales suffering from back pain have been waiting up to a year, only to be informed that specialist treatment at the Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) is not necessary for them.

Referrals System Overhaul

The hospital leadership has been notified of a major revision in the referral process for spinal issues. This overhaul aims to address long waiting times and improve patient care pathways.

Introduction of Single Point of Access

In January, a national team from the NHS Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme visited RJAH to propose a new "single point of access" system. This pilot initiative, planned for full implementation next year, seeks to ensure patients receive "the right care at the right place at the right time."

Rising Demand and Capacity Challenges

Referrals to RJAH have increased significantly, from 4,500 in 2018/19 to 6,802 in 2024/25.
Of these, 4,021 referrals come from England and 2,781 from Wales.
The rise in referrals is a national trend, causing a strain on hospital capacity and creating a mismatch between demand and available resources.

Concerns About Patient Pathways

“What’s really interesting is a 32 per cent discharge rate. 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.”

Another concern is that patients currently wait around 52 weeks to be seen in the outpatient department, leading to delays in effective treatment.

Summary

The hospital is working to resolve system inefficiencies caused by a surge in referrals and long waiting times, introducing new processes to deliver timely and appropriate care for spinal patients.

Shropshire Star — 2025-11-10