THE patient waiting list at Southampton's biggest hospital has reached 50,000 for the first time.

As the NHS continues to face unprecedented pressures, a record-breaking number of patients are finding themselves waiting for treatment. 

Despite delivering more appointments and treatments, referral numbers continue to grow, the trust says.

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The quarterly Agenda Trust Board papers published this month revealed the waiting list figures.

The documents state: "The waiting list had reached 50,000 for the first time ever and was growing each month despite doing more activity than planned, with 107 per cent on electives and 113 per cent across outpatients."

The papers say that July was "particularly challenging", however the trust performed well and that the "long waiters list" was 0 at the end of the month.

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David French, CEO at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, said they are "working hard to reduce the backlog in patients waiting for planned surgery and outpatient treatments".

He added: "We are actively reviewing and re-assessing the needs of people waiting for our care to ensure we prioritise those who need it most urgently.

"Unfortunately, despite delivering around eight per cent more appointments and treatments than before Covid, the growing number of new referrals to our hospital for treatment and constrained capacity from delays in discharging patients to social care, means that the overall waiting list continues to rise.

"We are continuing to invest in new capacity, and are actively piloting new and innovative models of care within the hospital and in partnership with other healthcare providers, to find ways to increase our ability to meet the needs of our community.

"Bringing waiting lists down remains one of our highest priorities."

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