Providing insight to the elective challenge However, the situation remains challenging. Although the number of people waiting the longest has reduced, the profile of people waiting has shifted and the overall list size remains largely unchanged. The elective challenge
Waiting times for elective care have been under pressure for a long time, but COVID-19 caused a dramatic escalation. At the height of the pandemic, many routine and elective procedures were paused to prioritise emergency care and respond to the urgent needs of patients with COVID-19. As a result, a substantial backlog accumulated. By 2024, the elective waiting list in England had grown to over 7.5 million with nearly 1 in 8 of the UK population on an elective waiting list. To meet this challenge the government and NHS England have launched several initiatives. Elective recovery plans: targeted investment in staff, facilities, and technology, including surgical hubs and community diagnostic centres, to increase capacity and efficiency. Use of the independent sector: collaborations with private healthcare providers to increase the volume of elective procedures. Prioritisation and triage: systems to ensure those in greatest clinical need or who have been waiting longest are treated first. Digital innovation: expansion of virtual consultations and digital tools to streamline patient pathways and reduce administrative delays.
Distribution of patient wait times
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
>0-6
>7-18
>19-52
>52-65
>67-100
>100+
Weeks
Jan-25 Feb-24
In January 2025, the NHS published a new ambition to reform elective services and increase the percentage of patients treated within 18 weeks to 65% by March 2026, with a further increase to 92% by March 2029. To meet this challenge, one large multi-site acute teaching trust asked Newton to help by bringing an innovative dynamic flow- based approach to the development of their recovery plan; a task they knew would be incredibly challenging. Newton’s rigorous, data-led approach has provided the trust with the insight they need to meet the challenge.
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