Chesterfield Royal Hospital named among the most improved trusts in the country for diagnostic waits

Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has been named as one of the most improved NHS Trusts in England for reducing diagnostic waiting times, following new analysis published by the Health Service Journal (HSJ).

The analysis, which examined performance against the national standard for diagnostic tests, identified Chesterfield Royal Hospital as the fourth most improved trust in the country over the past year for reducing the proportion of patients waiting more than six weeks for a diagnostic test.

The recognition comes at a time when many NHS organisations continue to face significant pressures on diagnostic services, including workforce shortages, increasing demand, capacity constraints and ageing equipment. The HSJ analysis highlighted substantial variation in performance across the country, making Chesterfield Royal Hospital's improvement particularly notable.

The achievement reflects the dedication and commitment of colleagues across the Trust who have worked tirelessly to improve patient access to vital diagnostic tests, helping more patients receive investigations sooner and begin treatment or receive reassurance more quickly.

Sarah Roberts-Morris, Divisional Director for Clinical Support Services at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, said: “Diagnostic services are often the starting point of a patient's journey, so reducing waits can make a real difference to people's experience and outcomes. While we know there is still more work to do, this recognition reflects the progress we have made together and the determination of our teams to keep improving.

“This recognition is a credit to the teams who deliver across our Trust every day. From radiographers, sonographers and clinical staff to administrative, support and operational colleagues, everyone has played a part in helping improve access for patients. Thank you.”

Dr Hal Spencer, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: "I’m incredibly proud to see Chesterfield Royal Hospital identified nationally as one of the most improved Trusts for diagnostic waiting times.

“Specifically, between July 2025 and June 2026, the proportion of patients receiving their diagnostic test within six weeks increased from 64.79% to 87.24%. This means the proportion waiting longer than six weeks has fallen by almost two-thirds.

“This progress has been achieved during a period of significant operational and financial pressure. Financial recovery must not mean lowering our ambitions for patients. It means making the best possible use of our resources, improving productivity and ensuring that high-quality services are sustainable for the future.

“There is still more to do, but this result demonstrates what colleagues can achieve through focus, collaboration and a shared commitment to improving care. I would like to thank everyone involved.”

The improvement supports the Trust's wider ambition of ensuring patients receive timely access to high-quality care and forms part of ongoing work to improve performance across elective, cancer and diagnostic services.

While challenges remain nationally and locally, the Trust is committed to continuing its programme of improvement, investing in services and working with partners to reduce waits and improve outcomes for patients across North Derbyshire.