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 been waiting up to a year at the Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) only to be told they do not require specialist treatment.

Referral System Under Review

Hospital leaders have been informed that the referral process for spinal problems is undergoing a major overhaul. In January, an NHS national team from the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme visited RJAH to introduce a new “single point of access” system.

“The aim is to ensure patients receive the right care at the right place at the right time.”

The system is currently being trialled ahead of a full rollout planned for next year.

Increasing Referrals and Demand Challenges

At a board meeting on November 5, the hospital was told that the rising number of referrals is a national issue. Referrals to RJAH increased sharply from 4,500 in 2018/19 to 6,802 in 2024/25, including 4,021 from England and 2,781 from Wales.

This surge has created a significant imbalance between capacity and demand.

High Discharge Rates Indicate Pathway Issues

An official highlighted a 32% discharge rate, saying,

“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.”

She noted that patients often wait around 52 weeks to be seen in the outpatient department.

Summary

The new referral system at RJAH aims to address long waits and high discharge rates by streamlining spinal patient care pathways.

Shropshire Star — 2025-11-10