Nuffield Trust: response to Prime Minister’s “mission” pledge to end hospital backlogs

Responding to the Prime Minister's “mission” pledge to hit the NHS 18-week target by 2029, Dr Becks Fisher said:

“It's unsurprising to see the Prime Minister double down on the NHS target for 92% of patients to start hospital treatment no later than 18 weeks from seeing their GP. Too many patients continue to wait too long for consultant care, with  growing numbers feeling forced to go private. Public opinion is firmly in favour of tackling waiting times.

“While the promise of 40,000 extra appointments a week is welcome, we know they will only make a small dent in the waiting list. Ambitious targets often have unintended consequences, and policymakers will need to think carefully about trade-offs. The NHS day-to-day budget is increasing by a significant but far from unlimited 3% this year and next. It is difficult to see how a focus that requires far more hospital treatment can happen at the same time as goals to provide much more care outside hospital and improve prevention.

“Notably missing today are the other key commitments from the health mission's original version: a specific commitment to halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest regions in England, and reforms to social care. These remain crucial issues, and government must pick them up with every bit as much focus.”