Spinal surgery waits

Request 850411960​

I would like to know the waiting times for spinal surgery for those patients who have been referred for spinal surgery in the routine, soon and urgent categories. I would also like to know what the schedule is for operating time/theatres for this surgery throughout 2026, including how many patients are likely to be treated per visit, and when the visiting surgeons are coming to Jersey, or if patients will be sent to the UK due to the long waiting times. In addition, are these visiting surgeon visits capped due to funding/availability, therefore restricting those who will get treated?

Response

Spinal surgery pathways are highly individualised. Patients are clinically assessed and prioritised based on the severity of their symptoms, clinical need, and their response to conservative treatments such as physiotherapy, pain management interventions, and spinal injections. As a result, waiting times can vary significantly between patients, and it is not possible to report standardised waiting times for treatment for patients categorised as routine, soon, or urgent.

As noted in a Freedom of Information response published to www.gov.je in March 2026, clinical priority is central to the pathway; emergency and urgent referrals are prioritised, ensuring that patients with red flag symptoms, acute neurological compromise, or time-critical conditions are assessed rapidly by the appropriate specialist team. Routine cases are managed according to clinical need and pathway capacity, with the aim of providing timely and co-ordinated care for all patients.

Information on referrals and triage, including the prioritisation of appointments, is available on www.gov.je at Hospital waiting lists.​

The median* (average) waiting times experienced by public patients who underwent spinal surgery in the 24-month period to 30 June 2026 are reported in the table; this measure reflects the established wait experienced by patients who have completed treatment, from the date they were listed for treatment to the date they completed their procedure, and may differ from that of patients who remain awaiting treatment. A breakdown of waiting times according to assessed clinical priority is included.

Median waiting time (weeks) for spinal surgery, 01 July 2024 to 30 June 2026

Data source: Hospital Patient Administration System

* Median Waiting Time: The median wait is calculated by arranging each patient's waiting time in order, and then selecting the waiting time of the person at the mid-point of that order.  It indicates that half of the patients waited less than the shown number of weeks and half of the patients waited longer.

The spinal pathway extends beyond surgery alone. Jersey has a comprehensive multidisciplinary spinal service, including the Spinal Assessment Service, Pain Management Team, and a Spinal Advanced Clinical Practitioner. These services include consultants, physiotherapists, and nursing staff who work closely with the Orthopaedic team to provide assessment, treatment, and ongoing management for patients throughout their spinal care journey. 

Most patients will be reviewed through the Spinal Assessment Service, Pain Management Team, and by a Spinal Surgeon to ensure the most appropriate treatment plan is identified. Conservative management remains the preferred treatment pathway wherever clinically appropriate, with surgery considered where indicated following specialist assessment.

At present, there are:

• 159 patients waiting for an outpatient spinal appointment
• 46 patients waiting for spinal surgery

The planned visiting spinal surgeon programme currently agreed for July to September 2026 is as follows:

• 17 to 20 July 2026
• 14 to 16 August 2026
• 25 to 27 September 2026

For the July visit, the programme includes:

• 1 day of surgery, during which 4 operations will be undertaken
  
• 3 days of outpatient clinics, with approximately 61 patients scheduled to be seen.
  

August and September are expected to follow a similar model, with a combination of surgical and outpatient activity.

Planning for visiting surgeon activity beyond September is due to be reviewed in August, at which point arrangements through to December 2026 will be considered and confirmed.

Visiting spinal surgeons are not subject to a fixed cap on activity at any scheduled visit, though the service must be funded within the budget available, which directs the frequency and duration of the commissioned service provision. Clinics and operating sessions are planned according to both the availability of the visiting specialist teams and the level of patient demand. Access to spinal care is determined by clinical priority and patient need, rather than being restricted by a set limit on visiting surgeon activity; patients are prioritised and scheduled based on clinical need, ensuring that those requiring the most urgent assessment or treatment are seen first.

Only paediatric patients and those requiring emergency or trauma care (who are referred to Southampton as the designated specialist and trauma centre) are transferred to the U.K. for spinal surgery. Patients are not routinely sent to the U.K. because of long waiting times.

If patients feel that their symptoms are deteriorating while they wait, it is recommended that they contact their GP for reassessment. Should their clinical condition warrant it, the GP can request that the appointment be expedited to ensure timely review and intervention.