The UK government has announced plans to reduce the NHS backlog and shorten waiting times for patients, including the establishment of more community-based diagnostic centres and greater reliance on the private sector. The proposal, which aims to address the current 7.5 million-strong waiting list, comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pushes for improvements ahead of the next general election.
The waiting list has ballooned, with over 3 million people waiting longer than the 18-week target. To tackle this, Starmer’s plan includes expanding the network of community diagnostic centres and surgical hubs. These facilities will enable more treatments outside of hospitals, particularly for less complex procedures such as cataract surgeries and some orthopaedic work. Additionally, more NHS patients will be treated in private clinics, with a focus on joint operations and gynaecological procedures.
“We want to offer patients more choice, with quicker access to treatment and better control over where and how they are treated,” Starmer said, referencing the long-standing NHS target that no longer meets expectations. Currently, only 59% of patients receive treatment within the 18-week target.
The proposed measures also include offering patients the ability to directly book appointments and consultations via the NHS app, boosting convenience and reducing missed appointments. Under the plan, NHS England aims to increase capacity by creating up to half a million extra appointments annually through community diagnostic centres and surgical hubs.
A key goal outlined by the government is to ensure 92% of patients are treated or given the all-clear within 18 weeks by the end of this Parliament. This would represent a significant reduction in the backlog, with officials forecasting a decrease of more than 450,000 patients waiting longer than the target.
However, while healthcare leaders have welcomed the plan, there are concerns about staffing levels. The British Medical Association’s Prof Phil Banfield raised doubts about whether the plan could succeed without the necessary workforce to meet rising demand. Dr. Jeanette Dickinson of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges also emphasized the challenges of implementing changes at scale without adequate staffing and facilities.
The proposal has received mixed reactions from political opponents. Conservative shadow health secretary Ed Argar argued that the government had already implemented successful reforms, while Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Helen Morgan warned that focusing on elective procedures, such as hip replacements, could risk neglecting more urgent medical needs like heart attacks.
Despite these concerns, the government remains determined to meet its ambitious targets and provide quicker, more accessible treatment for patients. The next steps will include a spending review later this year to secure additional funding for the plan.
