Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Acknowledged
We asked how confident NHSE was about the component programmes in its plan, particularly those...
Conclusion
We asked how confident NHSE was about the component programmes in its plan, particularly those aimed at increasing elective and diagnostic capacity. It told us that it did not have strong evidence for some of its programmes at present, but said it was building evaluation into its programmes on surgical hubs and community diagnostic centres.33 It said “the basis of a formal evaluation is clearly in place”.34 We hope that NHSE will take this responsibility to evaluate seriously. These are promising programmes but they must prove themselves in practice. We were concerned that NHSE had been unable to find its evaluation of a previous programme, elective accelerators, which provided £160 million to 12 local systems in 2021. The systems were supposed to increase their elective activity but in practice activity still fell short of pre-pandemic levels.35
Government Response Summary
The government outlines actions to increase activity, manage demand and increase productivity, stating that NHS England monitors progress and has published planning guidance; NHS England will write to the Committee before summer recess to set out further detail of the impact of community diagnostic centres, surgical hubs, use of the independent sector, and the advice and guidance programme.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
4.2 The actions in the NHS published Delivery Plan are targeted at increasing activity, managing demand or increasing productivity and NHS England carefully monitors progress against delivery targets at regular intervals. 4.3 The 2023-24 priorities and operational planning guidance published on 23 December 2022 detailed three tasks over the coming year; recover core services and productivity; as the NHS recovers, make progress in delivering the key ambitions in the Long Term Plan, and; continue transforming the NHS for the future. To assist in meeting these objectives, NHS England has set out the most critical, evidence-based actions that will support delivery - based on what systems and providers have already demonstrated makes the most difference to patient outcomes, experience, access, and safety. 4.4 The NHS is delivering at pace, 100 community diagnostic centres are currently in operation and have performed over 3.5 million tests, exams, and scans since July 2021 despite challenging and uncertain delivery conditions. NHS England will write to the Committee before summer recess to set out further detail of the impact of community diagnostic centres, surgical hubs, use of the independent sector, and the advice and guidance programme.