Responding to the Health and Social Care Select Committee’s new report into “Clearing the backlog caused by the pandemic”, David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, said:

“With NHS waiting lists at a record high and likely to grow significantly in light of the omicron variant, we welcome today’s Health and Care Select Committee report and join their call for a national health and care recovery plan to tackle waiting lists and improve access to care.

“Given the scale of the backlog, we need an “all shoulders to the wheel” response to reducing NHS waiting lists and the Committee’s report rightly emphasises the important role the independent health sector will have in supporting local NHS areas to increase elective activity and bring down waiting times.

“Tackling the elective backlog is the public’s number one priority for the NHS and we urge the Government to take on these recommendations and set out a clear strategy to ensure patients can access the care they need both now and in the future.”