The COVID pandemic halted elective surgery. Over 7.3 million patients are now on the waiting list for elective (planned) operations and some patients have waited over 78 weeks. Delays to treatment can have a major impact on patient health, well-being and quality of life. Some patients wait longer than others, which may be because their condition is more severe, but it may be that patients from poorer backgrounds or ethnic minorities wait longer due to difficulties in accessing healthcare.
The aim of our study is to find out if and how patient health, poverty, and ethnicity influence waiting times for surgery and their recovery from operations, and the impact of the pandemic on health inequality.
If we find that patients with certain health conditions, from poorer backgrounds, or ethnic minorities wait longer for surgery, we must understand why this inequality exists. NHS policy must then find ways to fix any inequality of access to care and ensure waiting times for surgery are fair across the country.