Over 11,000 patients get faster care thanks to Derby and Burton NHS staff
More than 11,000 additional patients received care sooner, as dedicated teams at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) improved patient waiting times as part of a national NHS Quarter 4 elective recovery sprint.
The time‑limited programme was designed to help NHS trusts see even more patients during the final months of the financial year, with additional funding provided for extra outpatient appointments, diagnostic tests and planned surgery - building on the progress already made by NHS staff earlier in the year.
Through targeted action across UHDB and in partnership with other organisations, the Trust saw a marked improvement in access to care and waiting list performance - which meant thousands more patients were seen by a specialist and received clarity about their NHS care.
By the end of March 2026, 61.9% of patients waiting at UHDB were seen within 18-weeks - the national standard - which was a 4.5% increase compared to February. The overall elective waiting list reduced to less than 93,300, its lowest level since March 2022, while the number of patients waiting more than 52 weeks fell to its lowest figure since August 2020.
The sprint required lots of teams at the Trust to work differently and flexibly to safely and effectively create additional capacity, while continuing to manage day‑to‑day pressures.
Paran Govender, Executive Chief Operating Officer, said:
"I am immensely grateful to our staff, and our partner organisations who have embraced this time-limited opportunity and delivered on the ambitious plans we set to reduce waiting times for over 11,000 patients who had already been waiting too long.
"We wanted to maximise the impact of the sprint so created additional capacity quickly, recognising that every extra appointment gave another patient clarity on their NHS care, and we appreciate our patients being flexible and working with us to attend appointments, sometimes with less notice that we'd normally provide."
While the sprint delivered significant progress, demand for elective care remains high and further work is needed to learn from the sprint, and sustain improvements at the Trust for all patients who are waiting for care.
"The Quarter 4 sprint showed what can be achieved when the NHS aligns around a shared goal," Paran added. "We fully acknowledge the impact waiting can have on our patients, and while the sprint gave us an opportunity to work differently for a group of patients, we remain firmly committed to reducing all waits for local communities."
All NHS trusts are working hard to bring down waiting times and support patients with more appointments, tests and surgeries. Figures published today revealed that nationally, the health service has hit its target - to see 65% of patients within 18 weeks - with the waiting list in the Midlands falling by more than 90,000 over the past year.
Dr Jess Sokolov, Regional Medical Director for NHSE in the Midlands, said: “Staff working across the NHS have pulled out all the stops to help people who have often been waiting too long for lifechanging surgery.
“Delays to planned procedures have a massive human cost in terms of the growing loss of independence or risk of accidents as a patient’s health deteriorates. That’s why we want more people to be seen within the 18 week time frame and return to their best health as soon as possible.”
Dr Sokolov emphasised that local providers have each played a part in the national effort to deliver the 65% 18 week-wait target, while maintaining a range of other clinical standards, and should be proud of their contribution.
“I want to thank everyone working in local health services for their commitment to improving standards while carrying out more tests, checks and elective appointments than any other year.”
UHDB continues to work with NHS partners across Derbyshire and Staffordshire to improve access to care, reduce long waits, and ensure patients receive timely, high‑quality treatment.