New figures show University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust has become the first teaching Trust in the country to eliminate the number of patients waiting more than 104 weeks for elective surgery.

The NHS Elective Recovery Plan, published in February, set out a blueprint for addressing Covid-19 backlogs with a target of ending two-year waits by July 2022.

Working directly with patients meeting the two-year threshold, the Trust’s surgical, diagnostic and operational teams have prioritised care based on clinical need, with regular progress reviews allowing for any potential issues and health inequalities to be highlighted efficiently and effectively.

Professor Andy Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of UHCW NHS Trust, said: “We are extremely proud of the expertise and dedication shown by our teams to reach this important milestone and deliver the highest standards of patient care.

“It is our aim to continue this momentum over the coming months to ensure waiting times for our patients are reduced to the lowest possible levels.”

Understandably, some people were nervous about coming forward during pandemic, especially during its peaks.

But Dr Nigel Sturrock, Regional Medical Director at NHS England and NHS Improvement in the Midlands, added: “It is vitally important that anybody who has health needs continues to come forward so that staff can help you with the best options for your care.”