IHPN responds to latest NHS performance figures

Responding to the latest NHS performance figures, David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) said:

“Today’s figures showing a small rise in NHS waiting lists demonstrates what a steep mountain there is to climb if the health service is to meet its target for 92% of patients to receive treatment within 18 weeks by 2029.

“While there’s no one silver bullet to clearing the backlog of NHS care, making use of all available capacity in the health service and giving patients real choice over where they receive their care will be key, with research showing that NHS patients are often able to cut more than two and a half months off their waiting time by choosing an alternative provider.

“Too often however, patients are not offered these choices, with IHPN’s recent report showing that only 1 in 3 GPs discuss with patients the different options of where they can be treated – not because they don’t believe in choice but because of the practical barriers they too often face.

“The Government have rightly said that patient choice and empowerment should be at the heart of its work to improve the NHS, but if choice is to play its full part in reducing waiting lists and giving people greater control over their care, it needs to move beyond policy commitments and tackle the barriers GPs face to ensure choice is a routine part of every patient’s journey.”