The UK government has announced new reform plans to address the backlog of the NHS waiting list, hoping to deliver more appointments, reduce delays, and give patients faster access to care
The government has set a target to restore the 18-week treatment standard by the end of this Parliament; this plan facilitates this by focusing on expanding community-based services, using technology and increasing patient choice.
Expanding access with community diagnostic centres and surgical hubs
A new feature of the reform plan is the expansion of Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) and surgical hubs.
CDCs will stay open for longer hours, up to 12 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing people to access a wider range of diagnostic tests in their local communities.
This is designed to make health care more convenient and reduce the need for patients to travel to hospitals.
The plan will also result in the creation of 14 new surgical hubs, which will be ring-fenced from seasonal pressures to focus on routine surgeries.
These hubs will help reduce waiting times for common, less complex procedures, freeing up beds in acute wards for more urgent cases.
Putting patients in control through technology
The plan also introduced many ideas that give patients more control over their treatment.
One foremost step is expanding the use of the NHS app, where patients can book appointments, view waiting times and check the availability of providers,
By making the NHS more accessible to everyone through technology, time will be saved, and the patient process will be easier.
Patients will also have better choices over non-essential follow-up appointments. By allowing patients to decide whether to attend follow-ups, the NHS hopes to free up one million appointments annually for those in more urgent need.
Reducing inefficiencies and using technology
To improve efficiency even more, the government will use artificial intelligence (AI) to predict and prevent missed appointments, which can significantly strain NHS resources.
AI tools will help identify patients likely to miss their scheduled visits, allowing for better planning and fewer wasted appointments. Remote monitoring technology, such as wearable devices, will also be used to manage patients’ health outside of traditional hospital settings.
Better investment in infrastructure and performance standards
The reform plan is supported by a £1.5 billion investment to fund the creation of new surgical hubs and other essential infrastructure.
The government is also introducing new performance standards to make sure patients receive consistent, high-quality care. These standards will help the NHS identify areas for improvement and encourage trusts to deliver better services.
To push NHS trusts to improve, those that make the fastest progress in reducing waiting times will receive additional funding for local projects, such as AI diagnostics or hospital upgrades.
This plan is designed to make sure that resources are allocated where they will have the most significant impact. The plan also includes measures to increase transparency and hold providers accountable for their performance.
A long-term plan for the NHS
The Elective Reform Plan is just the first step in a bigger 10-year strategy for transforming the NHS. This long-term plan will focus on three key areas: shifting care from hospitals to communities, embracing digital solutions, and prioritising prevention. By addressing these key issues, the government aims to create an NHS that is better equipped to meet future demands and deliver high-quality care for all.
If this plan is successful, it could transform the NHS in a way that delivers care better and benefits patients to the best of its ability.
