London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Labour’s plan to reduce NHS waiting times to 18 weeks is facing opposition from NHS leaders, with most trust bosses saying that target is unattainable due to a growing patient backlog of 7.64 million.
NHS bosses are privately concerned about Sir Keir Starmer‘s ambitious targets to cut waiting lists for routine operations, set to be announced this week, alongside goals on living standards and housebuilding.
The Times reported that the prime minister is set to announce a target on Thursday to complete 92% of routine operations and appointments within 18 weeks, a goal that has remained unmet for nearly a decade.
The majority of hospital and ambulance CEOs believe that the National Health Service (NHS) will fail to meet the government’s target of reducing waits for appointments to 18 weeks by the end of the current Parliament.
Currently, NHS stands at a backlog of 7.64 million, the target to see 92% of patients within 18 weeks of referral has not been achieved since 2016.
According to the NHS Providers annual survey in England, most NHS bosses from 118 trusts believe meeting the target is “unlikely” or “very unlikely.”
71% of trust leaders did not believe Labour’s pledge could be met within five years, While 100% of acute specialist and ambulance trust bosses disagreed.
The latest report shows that more than 250,000 patients have been waiting for more than a year for appointments, with over 3,300 waiting for 18 months or more.
Labour plans to decrease the backlog by scheduling an additional two million appointments every year.
NHS leaders warned of a “fundamental mismatch” between the growing demand for services and the NHS’s capacity to meet it.
NHS leaders doubt 18-week target
An NHS trust leader stated, “The Government has got the most focus on getting back to 18 weeks, which is the hardest standard to meet of all.”
“If you think, there were seven million people on a waiting list, and as fast as you take them off, currently, we’re putting more people on.”
“If you don’t create the capacity in primary care, in children’s services, in mental health, you can’t do the management of people properly in the community and stop them getting so acutely unwell.”
The deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said, “There will be progress, but can trust leaders, with hand on heart, say that they’re going to meet that 18-week standard? I think that is really difficult and challenging to predict.”
Health Minister outlines NHS plan
Karin Smyth, the Health Minister, said: “We inherited an NHS that is broken, but we are fixing the foundations with a nearly £26 billion boost for the NHS over this year and next.”
He added, “Through our 10 Year Health Plan we will build an NHS that is fit for the future and delivers for patients all year round, as we work towards our commitment to ensuring patients can expect to be treated within 18 weeks.”
NHS funding pledges concerns
During Reeves’s October budget, the chancellor announced an extra £22bn for the NHS funding to reduce waiting times, though NHS England leadership has not yet raised any specific concerns about the planned targets.
No 10 officials believe the new numerical target, while risky, is needed to make Starmer’s election “mission” into clear, actionable goals for the public.
As reported by the Guardian, NHS leaders are worried about the government pledges, suggesting that they could lead to reductions in services like A&E, community care, and mental health.
Health leaders have raised concerns that the NHS’s commitment to match mental health spending with overall budget increases may no longer be achievable, according to The Times.
Labour’s pre-election promises included recruiting 8,500 new mental health staff and reducing waiting times for healthcare patients.
McFadden defends Keir Starmer
Pat McFadden, the Cabinet Office minister, dismissed claims that Starmer’s Thursday speech was a reset after a difficult start for Labour in government.
Mr McFadden told the Sky News, “What we’re doing this week is setting out a plan for change over the next few years to tell the public what the key priorities are in these areas, but also to galvanise the government system because the truth is you need to drive the system if you’re going to deliver for the people.”