Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 21
21
Acknowledged
In response to our question about improving areas that have seen long-term underperformance, sometimes dating...
Conclusion
In response to our question about improving areas that have seen long-term underperformance, sometimes dating back to before the pandemic, NHSE told us that it had sent teams into some areas to support and challenge them.42 The National Audit Office report showed that the proportion of waiting patients who are in scope of the target to eliminate 78-week waits by April 2023 ranges from 2% to 20%, depending on the part of the country. This means that the challenge of meeting the target is vastly harder for some parts of the NHS than others.43 Key dependencies including workforce planning
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and outlines actions taken, including provider assessments, additional support for high-risk providers, monitoring, and addressing health inequalities, with ICBs expected to develop delivery plans.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
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