Presentation by the Deputy Director of Planning and Performance and Head of Commissioning and Strategy, North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (To Follow)
Minutes:
The Deputy Director of Planning and Performance, North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board gave a presentation updating Members on waiting lists for NHS services for County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT) in relation to planned care and cancer.
It was reported that the overall waiting list had progressively reduced over the last 12 months and was below planned levels; and the proportion of patients on the waiting list who had been waiting for less than 18 weeks had been relatively stable over the last 12 months, with signs of improvement from July 2024.
The presentation provided details of long waiting patients, with Members noting that CDDFT had zero reported 78+ww and 104+ww patients. It was also reported that the number of 52+ww had progressively reduced from August 2024 through to December 2024, however had increased slightly towards March 2025; and that a low number of 65+ww remained until December 2024 which was now showing as zero for March 2025.
The presentation provided a breakdown for each speciality, with Members noting that Trauma and Orthopaedic, General Surgery, Gynaecology and Other – Paediatric made up 50 per cent of the overall waiting list; and details were provided for the composition of outpatient attendances.
It was reported that diagnostic performance had been progressively improving over the last 12 months and was well below the North East and North Cumbria average position; the national ambition was 5 per cent and CDDFT were almost meeting this ambition with the aim of 1 per cent by March 2026; and in relation to Cancer services, CDDFT had consistently performed better than the North East and North Cumbria average position. Members noted that planned developments and improvements for cancer services in 2025/26 were being supported by the Northern Cancer Alliance.
Members sought an update on Breast Services and were informed that a managed clinical network across the North East and North Cumbria, facilitated by the Northern Cancer Alliance had been working on an improved clinical modelling for breast services, and an emerging clinical model had been identified which required agreement with providers. Members were advised that stakeholder engagement would be undertaken and that a further update could be provided to Members.
Discussion ensued regarding right place first time and whether delays to treatment could be linked to accessibility issues. Members were reminded that not all hospitals provided the same service so there may be an expectation for patients to have to travel however patient choice existed in relation to accessing services; and following a question Members were advised that the ICB was responsible for commissioning the patient transport services, which was provided by the North East Ambulance Service and that there was an eligibility criteria to access this service.
Members requested further details of waiting times for speciality services within diagnostics; and discussion ensued regarding the fluctuations within diagnostic activity over the last 12 months and the potential impact of cuts to the Integrated Care Board on meeting targets.
RESOLVED – That the Deputy Director of Planning and Performance, North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board be thanked for his detailed and accessible presentation.