25/03/2025
NHS England is not on track to achieve its target to end elective care waits of more than one year by March 2025 and although elective care activity has increased in recent years, the rise has not met target levels, according to a National Audit Office (NAO) report.
The report on NHS England’s plans to turn around record waiting lists found that the health service has made progress, but ‘more slowly than planned’. Alongside the below-target improvements in elective care, waiting times for diagnostic tests have shortened, but not by as much as hoped - while plans to reduce outpatient follow-up appointments have also fallen short.
GP leaders warned that slow progress on bringing down waiting lists - which the NAO has previously identified as a factor that adds to GP workload - has left general practice facing high levels of demand and struggling with complaints
Doctors Association UK GP spokesperson Dr Steve Taylor added: ‘With over 5m more appointments in GP practices every month compared to 2019, the delays in patient care is having a huge impact on primary care. Complaints of lack of GP appointments are being exacerbated by poor hospital performance as patients are increasingly needing to access care whilst they wait, and over half a million more long term sick needing support.’
He added: ‘Hospitals remain blocked with patients who could be better managed in the community, so it’s vital that there is a joined up approach with hospitals, community care and social care working together. It’s not one or the other, it’s all together.’
Read the full article here https://www.gponline.com/gp-workload-exacerbated-slow-progress-cutting-nhs-waits/article/1911426
