ALMOST 100 patients in Dorset waited more than a year to begin medical treatment, a newly published report has revealed.

The report, released by NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), shows that 92 patients referred for non-urgent consultant-led care had to wait more than 52 weeks to receive treatment in the year ending February 2020.

The national standard for non-urgent patients waiting more than a year for treatment is zero.

Dorset CCG has published its annual accounts report which details the achievements and challenges facing the county's NHS facilities in the last year, as well as financial statements and future plans.

The report compares the performance of Dorset CCG, which includes all 89 GP practices in the county, with the national standard of NHS facilities across the country.

As well as figures about waiting times for non-urgent consultant-led care, it shows that only 75 per cent of patients received non-urgent treatment within 18 weeks, which is the guideline set out in the NHS Constitution. The national standard for non-urgent patients receiving treatment within 18 weeks is 92 per cent.

It has been released after it emerged that 60 per cent of patients waiting for elective operations or treatment at Dorset County Hospital at the end of June 2020 had been waiting for more than 18 weeks.

The report states: "One of the biggest challenges for our providers in 2019/20 has been achieving the target of 92% of patients on a non-emergency pathway receiving their first treatment within 18 weeks.

"For the year, Dorset achieved 75 per cent. While this is below the target, significant efforts have been made in response to an increase in demand for services coupled with workforce challenges across our service providers.

"In 2019/20, significant progress has been made in the digital arena with the introduction of Consultant Connect and Attend Anywhere.

"Further significant progress will be made in the coming year along with other innovations in care and treatment."

The report also revealed that more than 32 per cent of patients in the Dorset CCG area exceeded the maximum 62-day wait from an urgent GP referral to the first definitive treatment for cancer - the national standard is 15 per cent.

The report did show, however, that Dorset CCG surpassed its mental health target as it revealed that 100 per cent of people experiencing a first episode of psychosis began treatment with a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved care package within two weeks of referral. The national standard is just 50 per cent.

Representatives from Dorset CCG will present the accounts online via a video link at 9am on September 30 and members of the public are encouraged to watch and ask questions.

For more information and to view the full report, visit https://www.dorsetccg.nhs.uk/please-join-us-on-30th-september/