IHPN responds to NHS performance figures

Responding to the latest NHS performance figures, David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN), said:

“It is clearly welcome news that NHS waiting lists fell again in May, and it will be vital that this improvement is sustained if the system is to achieve the 1 million+ annual reductions that NHS England has said is required to meet the 18-week target once again by the end of this Parliament.

“Given the need for a laser-like focus on cutting waiting times, it is particularly important that the Government urgently resolve the issue of local NHS bodies introducing “minimum waiting times”- with patients being told in some areas they won’t receive treatment until they’ve waited over 28 weeks.

“Different minimum waiting times across the country bring a real risk of a postcode lottery of care where local NHS systems are forcing patients to wait unnecessarily long periods, despite there being the capacity available to treat them earlier.

“It is important that the Government urgently looks into this issue to help ensure that waiting lists can continue to fall over an extended period of time.”