Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19 Backlog: Elective Care

Tuesday 24 January 2023 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 4 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Since the publication of the elective recovery delivery plan, the NHS has virtually eliminated two-year waits for treatments.
  • The NHS is introducing an additional 7,000 beds and a 500-million discharge fund to increase capacity.
  • The Government is investing 500 million in adult social care specifically for discharge, which will increase to 1 billion over the next two years.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Paul Bristow
NHS
Context

The MP is concerned about progress made on reducing the backlog of elective treatments caused by the pandemic.

Question

What recent progress has been made on tackling the covid-19 backlog in elective care? The NHS has virtually eliminated two-year waits, but efforts continue to tackle waits over 18 months. Patients are looking forward to new NHS community diagnostic centres and innovations like day-case treatments.

Answer from Will Quince

Since the publication of the elective recovery delivery plan, the NHS has virtually eliminated two-year waits for treatments. NHS England recently wrote to providers mandating action on 18-month waits, with appointments scheduled as soon as possible.

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Q2 Paul Bristow
NHS
Context

The MP highlights a new NHS community diagnostic centre and improvements at Royal Free Hospital.

Question

How will the Minister ensure that such innovation is spread across the NHS? The people of Peterborough are looking forward to their new NHS community diagnostic centre. Many cases previously treated as elective overnight stays are now treated as day cases, improving patient experience and increasing capacity.

Answer from Will Quince

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise this issue. We agree that such innovations including community diagnostic centres, surgical hubs, telemedicine, and using spare capacity in the private sector are helping us tackle the longest waits and reduce covid backlogs.

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Q3 Stephanie Peacock Lab Barnsley South
NHS
Context

The MP is concerned about the waiting list at Barnsley Hospital, which has almost 20,000 people waiting for treatment.

Question

How does the Government expect that hospital to solve the treatment backlog when it simply does not have the resources? The hospital's beds are nearly fully occupied. What plans are there?

Answer from Will Quince

We are increasing capacity by introducing an additional 7,000 beds and a £500-million discharge fund. An extra £250 million was announced in January. We are engaging with patients on choice and working with the most challenged trusts.

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Q4 Liz Kendall Lab Leicester West
NHS Social Care
Context

The MP is concerned about older people being stuck in hospitals due to lack of social care, leading to long waits for NHS treatment.

Question

Ministers will never deal with the record waits for NHS treatment until they stop older people being stuck in hospital because they cannot get decent social care in the community or at home. More than half a million people now require social care but have not even had their needs assessed or reviewed. Where is the Government's plan to address this?

Answer from Will Quince

We are creating 7,000 additional general and acute beds. We are investing £500 million in adult social care specifically for discharge, which goes up to £600 million next year and £1 billion the year after. The Chancellor announced £7.5 billion in the autumn statement for social care.

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