A damning report from the Public Accounts Committee has accused the Department of Health of overseeing 'years of decline' in NHS performance on cancer and waiting times targets. A record 6.1 million people are now on waiting lists for routine procedures, with numbers expected to rise for several years.
The report highlights a 'postcode lottery' in waiting times, with no national plan to address regional disparities. In September 2021, patients in the worst-performing areas were more than twice as likely to wait over 18 weeks for planned care or 62 days for cancer treatment compared to those in the best-performing areas.
NHS England has not met its 18-week target for planned treatment since February 2016, and has failed to hit all eight key cancer care standards since 2014. The Health and Social Care Levy, raising £36 billion over three years, is unlikely to improve outcomes, the committee warns.
Meanwhile, GPs are quitting due to a row over face-to-face appointments. Dr Andrew Green, a retired GP, told MPs that doctors felt 'pushed away from the profession' by criticism from the government and NHS England. Campaigners countered that a 'tiny minority' of GPs who avoid patient contact should reconsider their calling.
The report also notes that between 7.6 million and 9.1 million referrals for planned care were missed during the pandemic, along with up to 740,000 urgent cancer referrals. MPs warn that delays will lead to serious health consequences, including earlier deaths and prolonged pain for many patients.
