Waiting times for patients have increased at most hospitals in Greater Manchester, new figures have revealed.
Statistics released by the Department of Health show the number of people waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment has soared at six hospital trusts in the region.
One of the biggest rises was at Pennine Acute – which runs hospitals in Rochdale, Oldham, Bury and North Manchester.
Figures show 79 per cent of people were treated within the 18-week target in February, compared to 90pc in the same period the previous year.
In the NHS in England, waiting for hospital treatment is measured from the date when a GP writes a letter asking for a patient to be seen to the date that treatment is started.
The whole process is not meant to take more than 18 weeks – the limit for waiting promised to patients in the NHS constitution.
But the target was relaxed by the government last June and waiting times have gradually crept up since then.
Britain’s largest healthcare trade union, Unison, slammed the rises and said it feared the situation could get worse as government cuts begin to bite.
Kevin Lucas, Unison regional organiser, told the M.E.N: "The increase in waiting times for patients of the NHS is alarming.
"They show how the NHS is suffering from the government efficiency cuts in NHS funding.
"Pennine Acute Hospitals have to cut £45m this year. That means 1,000 fewer staff providing NHS services in north east Manchester. The situation in our NHS is getting worse and care for patients is clearly at risk."
The number of people waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment also increased at Tameside General, Stepping Hill in Stockport, Central Manchester, Royal Bolton and Salford Royal.
The only hospital trust to improve was the University Hospital of South Manchester – with 89.5pc of patients treated within 18 weeks – up from 82pc the previous February. Trafford General was the best performing hospital in Greater Manchester with 94.5pc of patients starting treatment within 18 weeks.
How the hospitals performed:
- Trafford - 94.5pc (Feb 2011); 94.5pc (Feb 2010)
- University Hospital of South Manchester - 89.5pc (Feb 2011); 82pc (Feb 2010)
- Salford Royal - 87.7pc (Feb 2011); 90.5pc (Feb 2010)
- Central Manchester - 85pc (Feb 2011); 90.6pc (Feb 2010)
- Royal Bolton - 83pc (Feb 2011); 90.3pc (Feb 2010)
- Pennine Acute - 79pc (Feb 2011); 90.1pc (Feb 2010)
- Tameside - 78.6pc (Feb 2011); 91.6pc (Feb 2010)
- Stockport 76.3pc (Feb 2011); 83.4pc (Feb 2010)
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... and it will only get worse, once the Tories' privatisation plans go through on the nod.
In opposition, David Cameron: “When your family relies on the NHS all the time — day after day, night after night — you know how precious it is. So for me, it’s not just a question of saying the NHS is safe in my hands."
And the hare-brained believed him.
this government are a disgrace, I am a regular user of the NHS, having a serious illness and have seen waiting time fall with Labour and now the condems are sending us back to the old days of waiting 18 months to see a consultant.
So is this thier idea of a Healthy Future and Making it Better?
Cmon now, what do youe expect from the Tories (I include the Liberals in this). Those who voted Tory for a 'change' must have a very short memory - remember the waiting lists in the 80's??!!
The Tories have never and will never care for the normal person, particularly in the North (Why should they - only the stupid minority up here vote for them!).
The waiting lists will get longer and longer and the Hospitals will fall into dis repair (Again).
There is a bright side however - there will be a lovely wedding in London on Friday, followed by a fantastic Olympics (Again in London) next year.
(And they say there is a shortage of money!! - Not for the South there aint!).
I know someone in Rochdale who has been waiting almost 12 months for urgent surgery against painful gallbladder attacks.
They were given a date for an operation earlier this month, but the date was withdrawn within 48 hrs.
You wouldn't treat a dog like this or you would get prosecuted for cruelty.
So long as we can all have a Royal wedding, stop moaning.
Maybe had money not been spent opening all these new hospital departments here there and everywere we would still ave a hospital in Rochdale my granddaughter who suffered an accident at home had to be taken from rochdale to bury to be attended to its absoluty ridiculous.......How many lifes will be lost before who evers fault it was for the closure of rochdale imfirmary will come to there senses!!...........