South West London CCG Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21

Below is a summary of the performance indicators that have continued to be collected as, despite the pandemic, the CCG has an obligation to meet the healthcare needs of the population within their care. The performance indicators provide a means for us to measure and assess the quality and productivity of the services we commission and to inform us where to focus our attention to improve the care our patients receive working in partnership with our service providers. Over this financial year we have worked well together in response to both waves of Covid-19, providing mutual support at times of differential challenge in the system. Referral to Treatment (RTT) The operational standard is that 92% of patients should be waiting no more than 18 weeks for elective treatment. In March 2020 NHS England issued guidance that all non-urgent elective activity be suspended for three months to free up the maximum inpatient and critical care capacity for the response to Covid-19. Further guidance was issued in December 2020 to again reduce inpatient activity in response to the second wave of Covid-19. During the first national lockdown, the Royal College of Surgeons issued guidance to support prioritisation of patients waiting on trust waiting lists for treatment. These clinical priority categories were based on the condition and treatment requirements and included a timeframe to each surgical procedure. This prioritisation enabled trusts to manage patient pathways from referral through outpatient appointments, diagnostic tests and onto treatments while safeguarding patient care. While the Covid-19 infection situation improved between August 2020 and December 2020, and providers invested in being able to deliver more patient contacts through telephone and virtual appointments, the overall reduction in available capacity for routine appointments and surgery has led to longer waiting times for some patient pathways through 2020/21. We have worked jointly with independent sector providers in the area to ensure use of Covid-free capacity, to increase the numbers of patients treated and to ensure urgent cancer and specialist treatments continued to plan with clinical networks working closely to monitor prioritised lists and mitigating for any delays that might otherwise arise due to the pandemic. 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% Apr 20 May 20 Jun 20 Jul 20 Aug 20 Sep 20 Oct 20 Nov 20 Dec 20 Jan 21 RTT - Performance 2020/21 104 | NHS South West London Clinical Commissioning Group