Responding to a speech by the Prime Minister in which he set out
a milestone for the NHS for
92% of patients to be seen within 18 weeks of referral, the
interim chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:
“Trust leaders are doing everything they can to ensure patients
get high quality care as quickly as possible. They are working
tirelessly with their frontline teams to reduce delays across the
NHS and have delivered real progress in tackling the longest
waits. They know they need to go further and faster for all
patients.
“However, even with the welcome budget boost for the NHS, they
are also calling for a healthy dose of realism about how quickly
they can deliver the ‘milestone' set out today given the backdrop
of soaring patient demand, the impact of a decade of
underinvestment, and major workforce challenges across every part
of the health and care system.
“Our recent State of the Provider
Sector survey showed many have doubts about being able to
meet performance standards including the 18-week target for
planned hospital treatment over the next five years. But they are
up for the challenge.
“It is also important to remember that the 18-week target does
not sit in isolation. It is vital that the laser-like focus on
bringing down waiting times for routine operations and
appointments doesn't come at the expense of other critical
services for which patients also face long waits, such as urgent
and emergency care, mental health services and social care. These
are just as vital for patients and must not be overlooked.
“Tackling these pressures can only be achieved through the
collective work of hospital, mental health, community and
ambulance services and their partners across the wider health and
care system.
“But trust leaders also recognise there is a real opportunity to
make much-needed progress. They fully back plans to shift care
from hospitals to the community, analogue to digital and
treatment to prevention and welcome the government's commitment
to addressing the challenges the health service faces together.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
- Nearly three quarters of trust leaders (71%) who responded to
our recent State of the provider
sector survey thought it was unlikely that the NHS could meet
constitutional standards, such as the 18-week standard for
planned hospital treatment, over the next five years.
