New NHS elective care target - our response

Today the Prime Minister Kier Starmer has announced that 92% of patients waiting for planned treatment should be seen within 18 weeks of being referred from GP services to hospital treatment by 2029.

The last time the 92% target was hit was in November 2015. 

The NHS data shows that in September 2024 only 58.5% of operations, or other procedures people were waiting for, occurred within 18 weeks.

Responding, our Chief Executive Louise Ansari said: 

“We welcome the ambition to ensure the NHS delivers on a target that hasn’t been met for nearly 10 years. We know long waits for care can be very stressful, affecting people’s wellbeing and their ability to work, care for others, and socialise. And these impacts particularly affect women, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled people, and unpaid carers.

“More work must continue to go into supporting those already on waiting lists, to make sure they can wait in as much comfort as possible. 

“Along with action to reduce waits and provide more support to people as they wait, we’re calling for the NHS to measure itself against other things that matter as well. People have told us they want to be involved in decisions about their care, they want more options and these options to be genuinely accessible, and they want clear communications from NHS teams. 

“It important that people keep on speaking up about their experiences of care, so we can help the NHS and the government track whether their plans are working, as part of their upcoming elective reform plan.”

As the government takes action on elective care targets, it's important that access to other areas of the NHS is improved, including in general practice, dentistry, and A&E.