An east London NHS trust has failed to hit a number of nationally-set waiting time targets – though a senior staff member said they have “confidence” things are improving. 

Data published in a report presented to Havering Council’s people overview and scrutiny sub-committee on March 15 outlined how, across several metrics, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT) is missing national targets. 

These include the percentage of patients on a referral to treatment pathway waiting less than 18 weeks for treatment (61.6pc in January, against a target of 92pc) and those receiving a diagnosis or ruling out cancer within 28 days of a GP referral (52.7pc, against a 75pc target). 

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Referencing investments including the forthcoming community diagnostics centre in Barking, Sas Banerjee, consultant colorectal surgeon and cancer clinical lead at BHRUT, said "there is a real optimism” that the trust's performance will improve. 

In its report, the trust noted how, as of February 21, it had 61,414 people on its waiting lists, 5,255 of whom are waiting for procedures. 

It added it intends on clearing all those waiting 78 weeks-plus by the end of March 2023, and 52-week waits over the next six months, more than a year ahead of the target set by NHS England.