Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Extra appointments ‘not enough’ to solve NHS waiting list crisis – new analysis reveals

Extra appointments ‘not enough’ to solve NHS waiting list crisis – new analysis reveals

The government’s extra two million appointments a year would only address about 15% of the additional activity required to meet the 18-week Referral To Treatment (RTT) target by 2028/29

The new Labour government has pledged to deliver an extra 40,000 NHS appointments, operations and diagnostics every week, equivalent to two million a year, to tackle the ongoing waiting list crisis.


It aims to ensure that 92 per cent of patients start routine hospital treatment within 18 weeks by the end of this parliament – a target that has not been met for nearly a decade.

However, a new analysis by healthcare consultancy CF (Carnall Farrar) and the NHS Confederation has revealed that these extra appointments alone will not be enough to achieve the 18-week Referral To Treatment (RTT) target by 2028/29.

The study estimates that 40,000 extra appointments per week would deliver only about 15 per cent of the additional activity required to hit the 18-week target, assuming demand continues to grow at current rates and care delivery remains unchanged.

While the report acknowledged that increasing capacity is a positive step, it stresses that further reforms and transformations in care pathways are necessary to bridge the gap.

It highlighted the need to strengthen and renew focus on existing initiatives as well as adopt more radical measures, such as creating elective hubs and centres of expertise for complex care.

Hannah Farrar, Chief Executive of CF (Carnall Farrar) said: “40,000 more operations is an important element but a step change in the Government’s approach is also needed.”

“This means a bold, transformational response to enable timely access to elective care, starting with embracing technology and treating patients holistically, and significantly accelerating the development of elective hubs and centres of expertise for complex care.”

She believes that adopting the mid- to long-term changes outlined in this report could protect and sustain the NHS long into the future.

Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, stated that to achieve the 18-week target by the end of this parliament, the government must use the Autumn Budget to address the short-term deficit that is causing NHS organisations to cut or freeze posts.

“This will inevitably impede efforts to increase productivity and reduce the waiting list. As our analysis with CF shows, 40,000 extra appointments a week won’t be nearly enough to hit the target,” Taylor said.

He also pointed out that the government’s plan to pay NHS staff time-and-a-half for weekend and evening shifts to clear the backlog is insufficient, as many NHS trusts are already offering similar pay.

Taylor emphasised that the NHS needs reform, not just ever more activity, to meet with the healthcare needs of the population.

“This means shifting to earlier, more preventative services – including primary and community care – to slow the rise in demand for healthcare.

“It will also mean boosting productivity through using modern technology and having buildings and equipment that are fit for the 21st Century,” he said, adding that this will require further investment in capital funding.

As mentioned in the report, there are currently over 7.5 million unresolved open care pathways, impacting an estimated 6.4 million individuals in England. Nearly four million of these unresolved open pathways form part of a significant backlog that has accumulated over the last decade.

The analysis found that to meet the 18-week standard, 3.6 million referrals must be managed at any given time to respond to the expected need for care and prevent the waiting list from growing further.

The NHS completed 22.2 million outpatient appointments, 2.8 million day-case procedures, and 740,000 overnight stays in 2023/24.

It is estimated that to reduce the waiting list to a level that would maintain the 18-week target, the NHS will need to provide 33.6 million outpatient appointments, four million day-case procedures, and 1.1 million overnight stays in 2028/29.

This represents a 50 per cent increase in activity compared to current levels.

More For You

Majority of Brits neglect consistent skincare routine,  survey finds

On average, Brits go to bed without washing their face twice a week.

Photo credit: gettyimages

Skincare: One in five Brits go to bed without washing their face daily, survey finds

Nearly two-thirds of Brits (60 per cent) neglect a consistent skincare routine,with almost one in five going to bed without washing their face daily, according to a new survey by consumer health company Kenvue.

The UK-wide survey of 2,000 people revealed that one-third of respondents (34 per cent) spend five minutes or less on their daily skincare routine. On average, Brits go to bed without washing their face twice a week.

Keep ReadingShow less
Risk of pharmacy closures remains despite record funding uplift

Community pharmacy sector remains in a fragile position as the funding gap is still significant, says CCA.

gettyimages

Pharmacy closures still a risk as funding deal fails to cover costs – warns CCA

The community pharmacy sector has secured the largest funding uplift across the NHS, yet concerns remain that it may not be enough to prevent further closures and service reductions.

Following a six-week consultation with Community Pharmacy England (CPE), the government has approved a £3.073 billion funding package for 2025/26, supplemented by an additional £215 million to support Pharmacy First and other Primary Care Recovery Plan services.

Keep ReadingShow less
Independent Prescribing: Government aims to complete pathfinder programme evaluation by autumn 2025

Pharmacist prescribers at 210 ‘pathfinder’ sites were allowed to trial prescribing models within integrated primary care services.

Photo credit: gettyimages

Independent prescribing: Pathfinder programme evaluation to be completed by autumn, says Kinnock

Health minister Stephen Kinnock has revealed that the evaluation of the Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Pathfinder Programme could be completed by Autumn 2025.

Kinnock was responding to a question from James Naish, Labour MP for Rushcliffe, who asked what steps the minister was taking to ensure continued support for the Pathfinder Programme and independent prescribing to maximise direct prescribing capacity in England.

Keep ReadingShow less
Royal College status: The PDA calls for ‘meaningful and collaborative dialogue’

The profession’s success will depend on collaboration across all sectors, says PDA.

gettyimages

Royal College vote: Less than 7% of GB pharmacists in favour, says PDA

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) has criticised the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) for moving too quickly to a ballot on its proposed transition to a Royal College, arguing that it resulted in low participation from pharmacists in Great Britain.

Announcing the results of the special resolution vote, the RPS said that the outcome was a “clear mandate” in favour of the transformative change.

Keep ReadingShow less
RPS Wales calls for urgent investment in pharmacy workforce at Senedd meeting

Third from the left: Eluned Morgan, First Minister of Wales

Photo credit: RPS

Invest in pharmacy workforce: RPS Wales urges Senedd members

Members of the Senedd (MSs) were briefed on the increasing pressures facing pharmacy teams and the urgent need for action to support their health and wellbeing at an event hosted by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Wales.

The event, held on Wednesday, brought together MSs, including first minister Eluned Morgan, to discuss the findings of RPS’ latest Workforce Wellbeing Survey.

Keep ReadingShow less