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At our evidence session the Department and NHSE&I appeared unwilling to make measurable commitments about...

Recommendation
At our evidence session the Department and NHSE&I appeared unwilling to make measurable commitments about what new funding for elective recovery would achieve in terms of additional NHS capacity and reduced patient waiting times. NHSE&I will receive an additional £8 billion for elective care recovery and £5.9 billion for capital between 2022–23 and 202425. Government expects that this additional funding will enable elective care activity to be 30% higher than pre-pandemic levels. However, the Department and NHSE&I have not set out in meaningful detail what the money will be spent on. NHSE&I is planning for 566 more elective care beds, but this appears to be a small number compared with the scale of the problem. Recommendation: In implementing its elective recovery plan, NHSE&I should set out clearly: • timeframes, costs and outputs of the components of the recovery plan covering elective care and cancer care to 2024–25; • the longer-term investments and plans that are being made now to improve the resilience of elective care and cancer care beyond 2024–25; and, • the national performance levels expected in each year between now and 2024–25.
Government Response

A response document is linked to this report, dated 27 May 2022. Response attribution to this recommendation has not been verified. Read the response document.

Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age 4.5 yrs
Report published 16 Mar 2022