New funding to kickstart delivery of two million extra NHS appointments
28 October 2024
The UK government has announced £1 billion of additional funding to the NHS to kickstart the delivery of two million more outpatient appointments by the end of March 2025.
The funding will be used to:
- Increase the number of diagnostic tests available
- Recruit more staff
- Open new clinics
- Extend the hours of existing clinics
The government says that the extra appointments will help to reduce the backlog of patients waiting for treatment, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “This £1 billion investment will help the NHS to deliver two million more appointments by the end of March 2025, helping to reduce waiting times and improve patient care.
“We know that the NHS is facing significant challenges, but we are committed to supporting it to recover from the pandemic and deliver the high-quality care that patients deserve.”
The NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare system, welcomed the additional funding.
Chief executive Matthew Taylor said: “This is a welcome investment that will help the NHS to reduce waiting times and improve patient care.
“We know that the NHS is facing significant challenges, but we are confident that with the right support it can recover from the pandemic and deliver the high-quality care that patients deserve.”
The funding announcement comes as the NHS faces increasing pressure on its services. The number of patients waiting for treatment has risen to a record high, and the waiting time for some procedures is now more than two years.
The government has pledged to invest an extra £33.9 billion in the NHS over the next three years. However, some experts have warned that this is not enough to meet the growing demand for healthcare services.
New funding to kickstart delivery of two million extra NHS appointments
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