NHS Confederation - Independent Sector capacity to support NHS

16 Feb 2016 12:55 PM

In response to latest NHS performance figures (Dec 15) showing a breach of the 18 week referral to treatment time target, NHSPN wrote to the Secretary of State for Health to say more needs to be done to ensure patients are not facing long wait times.

David Hare, Chief Executive, NHS Partners Network said:

“It is unacceptable that NHS patients are being left to wait over 18 weeks for treatment when additional support offered up by the independent sector isn’t being utilised. Behind every long wait for treatment is an individual patient story and for those patients they want to know that everything is being done to give them quick access to safe and effective care. Ministers must now redouble their efforts to make use of all available capacity across the NHS and get waiting times back on track.”

Letter to Secretary of State