Responding to the publication of the NHS’ elective recovery plan, David Hare, Chief Executive of Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN), said:

“With NHS waiting lists at a record high and millions of patients left struggling in pain due to delays in treatment, we welcome today’s NHS elective recovery strategy which sets out a clear plan of action to improve patient access to care.

“Given the scale of the backlog, it’s vital an “all shoulders to the wheel” approach is taken to tackle NHS waiting lists and today’s plan rightly makes clear that the independent health sector is a vital tool in the NHS’ armoury to increase elective activity and bring down waiting times.

“This includes a much-needed bolstering of patients’ right to choose where they receive their NHS care, and a clear ambition to ensure patients have all the information they need to make the right choices about their treatment, whether in the NHS or independent sector.

“Tackling the elective backlog is the public’s number one priority for the NHS and we must now see these positive commitments turned into concrete action, with a relentless focus on delivery in the coming months and years to ensure patients can access the care they need”