Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Deferred
Increased diagnostic capacity overwhelmed by surging demand, stalling waiting time progress
Conclusion
NHS England (NHSE) told us that the additional diagnostics capacity it had created had been quickly backfilled by growth in demand. Its progress on achieving the diagnostics recovery target remained stuck, with the number of patients waiting more than six weeks remaining fairly flat over the past twelve months at around 20%. It acknowledged that a great deal of focus would be required over the next year to make progress. NHSE told us that the growth in diagnostic demand was far in excess of the modelling it did to map out the delivery path.15 NHSE had not set a specific requirement for NHS organisations to meet the diagnostic target for 2025–26, although it wanted them to work towards it. It would consider whether to reset the diagnostic waiting time target as a requirement for next year.16
Government Response Summary
The government's response is entirely off-topic, detailing actions related to animal disease resilience and a Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement with the EU, thereby failing to address the Public Accounts Committee's factual conclusions regarding NHS diagnostics capacity and targets.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. requested by the Committee, noting that the negotiations for a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU, and timescales involved, will need to be integrated into development of this work. The department will examine strategic themes to determine how to strengthen long-term resilience to animal disease. The review will take account of other strategic interdependencies such as the livestock ID and traceability reforms, APHA’s systems reforms, upgrades to the National Biosecurity Centre, Veterinary Workforce and Vaccine Availability strategies and the UK Biological Security Strategy.