Holly Mullan
17 Oct 2023 · Coroner Alison Mutch · Manchester South
The coroner's concerns
1. long waits for specialist appointments
“The inquest heard evidence of the distress caused to [the deceased] and the impact on her health by the long waits to be seen by gastroenterologists and gynaecologists within the NHS”
2. long waits for specialist appointments
“The evidence heard was that post- Covid, the waiting times to be seen in both specialities unless the referral was on the two-week cancer wait had grown significantly across England”
3. long waits for specialist appointments
“pre-Covid, the average wait for a routine gynaecology referral was 18 weeks. Now in England the wait was often in excess of 12 months. Even an urgent referral would often involve a wait of over 40 weeks”
4. delays in diagnosis and treatment
“This was leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment even in those with significant/severe health conditions”