IHPN respond to yet another rise in NHS waiting lists

Responding to the latest NHS performance figures showing yet another rise in the NHS waiting list – with the backlog now standing at 7.38 million – David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) said:

“These latest figures show another worrying rise in NHS waiting lists, with the backlog now at its highest level since last autumn, underlining the scale of the challenge facing the NHS and the urgent need to get patients the care they need.

“This month marks the crucial halfway point in the Government’s ambition to ensure 92% of patients are treated within 18 weeks by March 2029. Yet with just 65.8% currently being treated within this timeframe, there is still a considerable way to go, and urgent action is needed to get progress back on track.

“The consequences of long waits extend far beyond patients’ health. The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows an association between receiving NHS elective treatment within 18 weeks and reduced reliance on welfare benefits for up to five years. Tackling waiting lists is therefore not just a healthcare priority, but an economic one, helping people stay in or return to work, reducing pressure on public finances and supporting growth.

“With the NHS under enormous pressure, we cannot afford to leave available healthcare capacity unused. One of the most effective ways to cut waiting times is to ensure patients can access treatment from providers with the capacity to deliver care safely and quickly – whether in the NHS or independent sector. This means removing unnecessary barriers to patient choice and ensuring NHS activity and funding can flow to where patients can be treated most quickly. Making full use of the capacity available across the whole healthcare system is essential if we are to deliver the 18-week target, support the Government’s Keep Britain Working ambitions, and get the country healthier and back to work.”