IHPN responds to small rise in NHS waiting lists

Responding to the latest NHS performance figures showing a small rise in NHS waiting lists, Danielle Henry, Director of Policy, said:

“These figures show that the NHS needs to rapidly increase the amount of activity it delivers if it is going to successfully reduce waiting lists by 1 million each year – something which NHS England itself has said is required if it is to meet the 18-week target once again by the end of this Parliament.

“While achieving this will not be easy, it is still possible and will require the NHS to use all the tools in its armoury to improve patient access to care. This includes the capacity available in the independent sector where providers are already helping over 1.5 million patients a year to get the treatment they need and off an NHS waiting list, with patients treated on average seven weeks faster than in NHS providers.

 “IHPN will continue to work with the NHS and Government to ensure the principles contained in the recent NHS and independent sector partnership agreement launched by the Prime Minister are fully embedded – enabling patients to have a greater choice over their care so they can get the treatment they need, when they need it.”