New government plan aims to cut NHS waiting times
Healthwatch England respond to government plans
The government has published its NHS Elective Reform Plan to reduce waiting times for planned hospital care.
The plan sets out how it aims, by 2029, for 92% of patients to have a diagnostic test, outpatient appointment or operation within 18 weeks of a GP referral - a target the NHS has not met for the past 10 years.
The plan includes:
- An interim national target of 65% of people to be seen or treated within 18 weeks of their referral by March 2026. Each NHS hospital will have to make improvements from their current performance on wait times.
- Compulsory training for administrative staff, to help improve communication with patients.
- Appointment information for 85% of all acute trusts to be available via the NHS App by March 2025.
- The creation of a named patient’s experience champion at all major hospitals.
Healthwatch England response
Chief Executive Louise Ansari said: “We welcome this new plan’s focus on better waiting experiences, and not just wait times.
"In our own ‘Patient Vision 2030’ plan last year, we had called for a focus on better-trained admin staff and expansion of the NHS App to ensure people got regular and informed updates"
