IHPN responds to NHS hitting its interim target for 65% of patients to be treated within 18 weeks

Responding to the latest NHS performance stats which show that the NHS has hit its interim target for 65% of patients to be treated within 18 weeks, David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN), said:

“With polling consistently showing that cutting waiting times for planned care is the public’s top priority for the NHS, it is a real achievement to see the NHS hit the interim target of ensuring 65% of patients are treated within 18 weeks of referral.

“The independent sector is proud to have played a key part in this success – last year delivering a record 6 million NHS appointments and removing more than 1.6 million people from NHS waiting lists – all free at the point of use to patients and paid for at prices set by the NHS.

“But today’s figures should be seen as a staging post rather than the finish line. There remains a steep mountain to climb if the NHS is to achieve its overall target of 92% of patients receiving treatment within 18 weeks by 2029.

“It’s therefore vital we build on this positive progress to ensure patients can get the care they need, when they need it. This includes a renewed push on patient choice rights – with patients often able to cut more than two and a half months off their waiting time by choosing an alternative provider – alongside ensuring that all available capacity across the healthcare system is used effectively and consistently.”

Ends

• IHPN’s analysis on how NHS patients can cut their average waiting time by choosing an alternative provider can be found here