The government has unveiled a new report outlining its ambitious strategy to tackle long-standing challenges in elective care. With 6.3 million patients awaiting appointments, procedures, or operations, and 40% of these waiting more than 18 weeks, there is increasing demands on the NHS. This reform plan focuses on empowering patients, improving service delivery, and aligning resources with care priorities.
Key Highlights
- Empowering Patients: Digital tools like the NHS App will become the default route for elective bookings, with new standards and leadership roles to enhance patient experience.
- Reforming Delivery: Partnerships with the independent sector, expanded community diagnostic centres, and new surgical hubs will boost capacity and reduce waiting times.
- Delivering Care in the Right Place: Enhanced GP services, tech-driven solutions, and patient-initiated follow-ups aim to streamline care and reduce unnecessary delays.
- Aligning Funding and Standards: Updated funding schemes, performance oversight, and workforce programmes will drive improvements in care delivery and efficiency.
Our full snapshot of the report is below:
Click to enlarge.
This plan outlines clear next steps to address the challenges facing elective care. By leveraging digital tools, innovative partnerships, and data-driven approaches, the goal is to create a more efficient, equitable, and patient-focused system. These initiatives aim to deliver measurable improvements, success will depend on implementation across all levels of the healthcare system, ensuring the reforms translate into tangible benefits for patients.
Read the full report here.
