November 2023
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This conference focused on the way forward for elective recovery and waiting times in the NHS.
It was an opportunity for key stakeholders and policymakers to examine the Elective Recovery Taskforce Implementation Plan, recently published by DHSC.
Delegates discussed priorities and next steps following last year’s NHS Delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care, and the subsequent NAO report Managing NHS backlogs and waiting times in England, expressing concerns that the delivery plan target to end waits of more than 52 weeks by 2025 risks not being met.
It also came with the Health Secretary announcing measures aimed at enabling the private sector to contribute a higher capacity to speed up access to treatment, alongside the launch of new Community Diagnostic Centres.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Elin Jones, National Programme Director for Elective Recovery, NHS England; Tom Moberly, UK Editor, British Medical Journal; John Hopgood, Head of Acute Care Policy, Independent Healthcare Providers Network; and Dr Latifa Patel, Representative Body Chair and Equality Lead, British Medical Association.
Further sessions in the agenda looked at the role and next steps for the Elective Recovery Taskforce, including priorities for reducing health inequalities in recovery and waiting lists.
It was also an opportunity to discuss key issues for healthcare workers in relation to tackling backlogs and how the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan can be applied to addressing these challenges.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- the Elective Recovery Taskforce: analysing recommendations in the taskforce’s Implementation Plan - assessing outcomes of the Government’s elective recovery plan
- workforce: addressing capacity and burnout - recruitment and retention priorities - implementing innovative new ways of working
- the private sector: the future role of independent healthcare organisations - parameters and strategies for their involvement in helping relieve waiting list and elective recovery pressures
- quality of care: priorities for improving accessibility, clinical effectiveness, safety and patient experience of elective care - addressing health inequalities and national variation
- wider healthcare challenges: the future demand of health services - dealing with an ageing population - supporting patients on waiting lists - assessing potential for utilisation of AI
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from the CCS; DHSC; Department of Health, NI; Department of Health, ROI; NAO; ONS; UKSA; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government.
