Over two million extra NHS appointments delivered early as trusts handed £40 million to go further and faster
The NHS has delivered over two million extra appointments early, such as cancer checks and diagnostics, as part of the NHS’s elective recovery plan.
The announcement comes as the NHS releases nearly £40 million in funding to support continued improvement, including new innovative ways to reduce waiting lists further and faster.
In total, hospitals and other providers will share £39.6 million to provide extra capacity and reduce the number of people waiting for care.
The additional funding will build on the £20 million announced in January this year, to ensure the NHS creates extra capacity and continues to reduce the number of people waiting for care, including those who have been waiting a long time.
This includes:
- £10 million for a virtual ward programme to support people being discharged from hospital more quickly
- £5 million for an ‘NHS Nightingale Accelerator Programme’ to create extra capacity through innovative models of care
- £3.6 million for ‘digital urgent and emergency care hubs’ to ensure people are able to access the right care at the right time and place
- £2 million for a ‘virtual frailty network’ to enable older and more vulnerable people to be monitored in their own homes
The NHS has made significant progress in reducing waiting lists, with 3.28 million fewer people waiting for hospital treatment compared to September 2022. But elective recovery is a marathon not a sprint, and the NHS is determined to reduce waiting times as quickly as possible and make sure anybody who needs NHS care can get it when they need it.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:
“NHS staff are working incredibly hard to drive down waiting lists, and we are seeing progress. There are now 3.28 million fewer people waiting for treatment compared to September 2022 – but we must continue to go further and faster.
”This additional funding will support trusts to increase capacity, reduce waiting times and deliver more appointments early for patients.”
NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard said:
“The NHS is continuing to make progress in reducing waiting lists, with over two million extra appointments delivered early since the start of the year. This is thanks to the hard work and dedication of NHS staff, who are determined to deliver the best possible care to patients.
“This extra funding will support our continued drive to increase capacity and reduce waiting times, so that patients can get the care they need, when they need it.”
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