Briefing / Turning it around

Elective recovery is beginning to gain traction as the NHS in England battles to hit the target of no-one waiting more than two years by the end of July 2022. But, as a recent HFMA roundtable heard, there is still much work to be done. Performance statistics show overall waiting times remain stubbornly high.

The next target is to eradicate 78-week waits by April 2023 and the roundtable, supported by Baxter Healthcare, discussed how tough it will be to achieve this. Many of the patients waiting more than two years needed surgery, and providing this was relatively straightforward. But most of those waiting 18 months or more require diagnostics or outpatient appointments. The outpatient model – more or less the same since 1948 – had to be reformed, participants agreed. And, while the NHS has to be aware of the possible challenges ahead, finance should not be a barrier to change.