- At least 2,000 patients have accidentally dropped off NHS waiting lists since 2018 due to flaws in an electronic referral system, according to the Health Services Safety Investigations Body.
- The NHS e-Referral Service automatically removes referrals after 180 days of inactivity, a function designed to manage worklists that now creates a patient safety hazard amid rising waiting times.
- Investigation findings revealed that around 1,000 patients dropped off worklists in 2023/24 alone due to clinic capacity constraints, with issues only spotted after GP practices raised concerns.
- The safety watchdog highlighted that the referral system was not designed to handle current demand, as NHS England figures show waiting lists stand at an estimated 7.37 million treatments.
- The HSSIB and patient advocates have urged NHS trusts to implement immediate safety checks and reliable referral tracking to ensure no patients suffer delayed care.
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