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Health leaders have warned that the government’s plan to solve the hospital backlog in England will fail without substantial reform in the way services work. Labour has promised to raise the number of weekly operations and appointments by 40,000 in order to help meet the 18-week waiting time target. However, research conducted by the NHS Confederation found that it would only provide roughly 15% of the extra capacity needed to get back to reaching the target, which hasn’t been reached since 2006. The Confederation is calling for improvement in hospital care, including greater use of digital technologies to enhance productivity.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting ordered a review of NHS performance by NHS surgeon and independent peer Lord Ara Darzi, to find the biggest issues in improving waiting times. Sources reported that the review would be an honest and critical report, including problems due to productivity in particular areas, a warning concerning children’s health, and how it has degraded throughout the previous decade. The NHS Confederation research emphasised the requirement for far-reaching reforms, particularly the investment in building structures and technology. They have also advised carrying out fewer pre- and post-treatment appointments, and remote follow-up appointments where feasible, rather than the time-consuming follow-ups currently in place.
Sir Keir Starmer has commented about Lord Darzi’s upcoming report, telling the BBC in his first significant interview over the weekend that previous Conservative-led governments were responsible for breaking the NHS. Surgical hubs for carrying out low-complexity, high-volume treatments – like hip replacements and cataract surgery – can be expected to expand through this review. The Health Foundation also stated that treatments had increased by a fifth in areas that have already introduced surgical hubs. Existing hospitals will be expected to carry out more, and staff will be paid time-and-a-half to work weekends to keep the 40,000 weekly appointments and treatments target outlined in Labour’s election manifesto.
At present, over 7.6 million individuals are on the NHS waiting list, with over 40% waiting for more than 18 weeks. The goal is for 92% of patients to be seen within 18 weeks, however, this has not been achieved since 2006. While doing more will be helpful, it will not be enough to meet the target alone. The primary goal calls for a fundamental transformation of how hospital care is provided, as well as reduing appointments, hospital waiting lists, and waiting times. The report asks for upfront investment in buildings and technology, as well as preventative measures to reduce the number of people requiring medical attention. While the Department of Health and Social Care has promised immediate improvements, it has recognised that improved productivity and technological investment are necessary for long-term change
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