York District Hospital was hit today by a triple dose of bad news.

The number of patients waiting more than 12 months for treatment has risen to 103, with orthopaedics particularly badly hit.

"Bed-blocking" is also on the increase, with 70 patients at YDH, outlying community hospitals and community rehabilitation units now unable to leave hospital - even though they are considered fit to go into care homes.

And the York Health Services Trust has already overspent by £175,000, with action needed to prevent a "serious financial position" developing towards the middle of the financial year.

Chief executive Simon Pleydell revealed the areas of concern in a report to Wednesday's board meeting.

"Although the trust's overall in-patient waiting list size is well within plan, the number of patients waiting more than 12 months has risen to 103," he said.

"Of particular concern is the number of patients waiting in orthopaedics for elective surgery. Meetings are being held with the specialty and the Primary Care Trust to discuss how this situation is going to be resolved."

He said another concern lay with the position of patients waiting more than 26 weeks for their first out-patient appointment. The main areas were opthalmology, with 87 on the waiting list, and neurology, with 44.

"Again, discussions are taking place with the individual specialities to see how these issues can be addressed, bearing in mind the overall target to have no one waiting more than 26 weeks by the end of March 2002."

He said the continuing problem of delayed discharges had worsened.

"The position is clearly of great concern at this stage in the year." Bed-blocking numbers are usually expected to rise in winter.

He said a meeting had now been arranged between the health trust, the Primary Care Trust, the health authority and City of York Council early in July to address the problem.

Updated: 10:44 Monday, June 25, 2001