Unprecedented demand due to COVID-19 has led to many NHS services being put on hold with attention and resources redirected to dealing with the demands of the pandemic. For Dermatology in particular, not being seen as a key focus area amongst Primary Care Commissioners (PCCs), waiting lists have increased drastically resulting in a 52-week backlog for dermatology patients as of the date of publishing. This concerning trend looks set to continue, as the growth in referral to treatment rates for Dermatology is at an all-time high of 39.2%, exceeding the national average rate of 33.3% in July 2021.

In July 2021 alone, the NHS saw 1.5 million new patients being referred to specialists by their GPs. From our data, we can see that this is an increase of 33.3% in comparison to July 2020. Inspecting further, Dermatology contributed 7.1% of that total - an increase of 39.2% from July 2020. 

The easing of COVID restrictions does not mean that there is not a lasting impact on the NHS and ultimately patient care. We know that there are currently 5.6 million patients who have been referred to a specialist but have not yet completed the cycle of referral (i.e. receiving treatment for their condition), this is in comparison to just over 4 million in July 2020. Dermatology patients represent 5% of that 5.6 million total, and with the number of patients being referred continuing to increase, the detrimental impact is felt, where incomplete patient referrals in Dermatology alone have increased by 50.3% within the last 12 months.

With waiting times for over 293,000 patients exceeding 52 weeks to see a specialist, an increase of 252% in comparison to July 2020 - the impact on patient care could be devastating. Again, the increase we are seeing in waiting times is most prevalent in the dermatology therapy area, which has seen a staggering 402.5% increase in patients waiting in excess of 52 weeks to be seen by a Dermatologist from July 2020. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the insights in your therapy area, get in touch with us at hello@NeoSypher.com.