Medical experts have issued a stark warning about the state of England's NHS, revealing that waiting lists for routine treatments must be more than halved to meet government targets.
The scale of the challenge
The current NHS elective waiting list stands at 7.39 million people, a figure that needs to be reduced to approximately 3.4 million over the next three years to achieve the government's 92 per cent 18-week treatment standard. This target for elective treatment hasn't been met since 2015, with current performance showing a significant shortfall from the desired standard.
Impact on patients and the health service
The Royal College of Physicians emphasises that these extensive delays are causing considerable patient suffering and leading to more complex care needs as conditions deteriorate while people wait. They also highlight how the situation is exacerbating regional health inequalities across the country, with some areas facing much longer waits than others.
Government response and the road ahead
While the Department of Health and Social Care has noted a recent fall in waiting lists and increased productivity within the NHS, it acknowledges that further substantial effort is required to meet what it describes as an 'ambitious' 18-week target. The challenge of reducing the list by nearly four million people represents one of the most significant tasks facing the health service as it continues to recover from pandemic-related backlogs while dealing with ongoing pressures.
