IHPN responds to latest NHS waiting list stats

Responding to the latest NHS performance figures showing NHS waiting lists are at 7.6 million, David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN), said:

“These latest figures show that millions of NHS patients continue to wait far too long to get the care they need, preventing them from leading the active and productive lives they deserve.

“In his recent report, Lord Darzi identified a number of reasons for this failure to treat NHS patients in a timely manner, including the “disempowerment” of patients who increasingly unable to make choices around their care. This is despite recent research conducted by IHPN which shows that patients can be treated much more quickly when they are given a choice over where they receive their NHS care. Indeed, across England, patients on average need to travel just 12 miles – around 25 minutes by car – to a different provider to cut three months off their waiting time.

“Looking ahead to what will likely be a difficult Winter, it is therefore crucial that the Government does more to ensure the public are fully aware of the wide range of healthcare providers – both NHS and private – where they can receive treatment in their local area, free at the point of use.

“Given the important role that independent providers can play to providing both choice and additional capacity to local areas, we also want to see the NHS make much greater use of the private sector investment to build much needed new healthcare facilities, including for cancer, surgery and diagnostic care – supporting better access to NHS services for patients at a time when public resources are hugely stretched.”