Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Accepted
We asked NHSE about its programme management of the recovery and its strategic approach to...
Recommendation
We asked NHSE about its programme management of the recovery and its strategic approach to tackling variation in performance between NHS areas. The National Audit Office found that, whilst recovery funding was allocated in September 2021 and the recovery plan published in February 2022, NHSE had only filled seven out of 21 posts in its central programme management office by the end of May 2022. It also reported that NHSE still did not have the capability to report fully on performance, according to the measures it had itself identified, in August 2022.39
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and will assess all providers based on their confidence in delivering against targets, with providers at highest risk receiving additional national support and oversight; implementation by July 2023.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: July 2023 5.2 As part of the second phase of the Elective Recovery Plan, all providers have been assessed based on confidence of delivering against the targets of reducing the cancer 62 day backlog back to pre-pandemic levels by March 2023, and reducing the number of 78 week elective long waiters to zero by April 2023 with the exception of those patients who choose to wait longer, and a very small number of specific highly specialised areas. Those providers at the highest risk have been included in a Tier 1 grouping. This means additional national support and oversight, which may include on-site expertise and ongoing conversation between ministers and provider chief executives. Day-to-day performance is continually monitored through NHS England’s Elective Recovery and Cancer programme teams, under the Senior Responsible Officers of these teams’ National Directors, with the department providing additional oversight. 5.3 The elective recovery programme has established an elective recovery health inequalities user group to ensure the lens of health inequalities is embedded within all aspects of elective recovery, guaranteeing that recovery is fair for all those who need treatment. 5.4 As set out in the 2023/24 priorities and operational planning guidance, Integrated Care Boards are expected to work with NHS England through their joint commissioning arrangements to develop delivery plans. These should identify at least three key priority