IHPN responds to further rise in NHS waiting lists

Responding to the latest NHS performance figures showing the elective waiting list has risen once again, David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN), said:

“It is now four years since the NHS waiting list first reached 7 million. While progress has been made in bringing the list down from its peak in 2023, today’s figures are a reminder of the scale of the challenge still facing the health service.

“Bringing waiting times down remains a top priority for the public who are expecting to see a clear improvement in their access to treatment during this Parliament and now is not the time to stop aiming to meet the NHS’ 18 week target by 2029. This is a collective challenge, requiring the NHS and independent sector working together to make the best possible use of all the capacity available in order to deliver the care patients need. Independent providers are already playing their part, but they could be doing so much more.

“With progress undoubtedly slowing, now is the time for the Government to redouble its efforts to tackle the backlog, including a clear steer for the NHS to shift activity away from providers that are struggling to deliver timely care and towards those that can treat patients safely and quickly – whether NHS or independent providers.”

The Independent Healthcare Providers Network is the representative body for independent sector healthcare providers. Our members deliver a very diverse range of services to NHS and private patients including acute care, primary care, community care, neurodevelopmental care, and diagnostics.

To find out more visit www.ihpn.org.uk 

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*Polling of a nationally representative sample of 2171 people carried out by Savanta shows almost 8 in 10 people (78%) say that meeting the NHS’ 18-week target by the end of this Parliament should be the Government’s top priority for the NHS, with 40% saying they would be more likely to vote for a different party if this target is not met.