A REPORT has highlighted the challenges hospitals in the Bradford district are facing when it comes to staffing and waiting times.

The findings will be discussed when representatives of the three Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) meet tomorrow.

In looking at the most up to date data for the Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which includes the Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital, it says: "There were two inpatient areas where Registered Nurse fill rates fell below 70 per cent in May 2019. In April 2019 there was a slight decrease in turnover for all staff groups, 10.68 per cent.

"Sickness absence rate for April 2019 was 4.52 per cent. Anxiety/stress/depression remains the most common reason for absence."

It also says that "significant pressures" within A&E continue, with the emergency care standard of 95 per cent not routinely met.

However, it says improvements have been noted and "no subsequent harm has been identified".

It adds: "Cancer two-week wait performance for May 2019 reported failures in performance against the two-week wait (91.68 per cent), 62 day GP referral to treatment and the 62 day screening referral to treatment.

"The two-week wait position was 93.11 per cent in June 2019 with an improvement noted in the management of breast cancer referrals. The 62 day First Treatment remains below target in June due to capacity issues in clinical oncology."

Leeds has been able to provide some support to reduce the gap and the report says a gastrointestinal radiologist is due to start work at the Trust this month.

For June, diagnostic waiting times was reported at 93.82 per cent, with 425 breaches, which is below the England average of 95.7 per cent.

In looking at the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, which Airedale General Hospital comes under, the report says that July saw nurse staffing levels "under continued pressure" and in June, nine of 17 areas reported fill rates below the 90 per cent threshold for Registered Nurses on day shifts. July saw eight areas reporting a deficit.

The Trust is also not meeting the 95 per cent Urgent and Emergency Care target, achieving 85.9 per cent in June.

The report says: "The Trust has advised that the high operational demand reported previously has continued and is currently 4.5 per cent higher for July 2019 than the corresponding period the previous year, although it should be noted that this percentage is reducing month on month."

It adds: "The Trust did not achieve the 62-day Cancer standard or two-week standard in June 2019 partly due to endoscopy capacity as a result of nurse staffing sickness."

It said the Trust received support from NHS Improvement and collaborated with Bradford Teaching Hospitals.

Rob Aitchison, chief operating officer at the Trust, said: "The pressures we’re experiencing are in line with those seen by providers nationally. During July 90 per cent of patients attending the emergency department at Airedale received treatment within four hours and we continue to offer good access for patients undergoing investigations and treatment for cancer.”