NHSE has aimed to free up capacity in outpatient services to allow more patients from the waiting list to be seen. In 2022, NHSE set a target to reduce outpatient follow-up appointments by 25% compared with 2019–20 levels by March 2023. The outpatients programme spent £52 million from 2021–22 to 2023–24. The NAO reported it had not seen evidence of any assessment of the funding and resources required to achieve the 25% reduction. The NAO also reported that performance reporting was sporadic, with performance against the target only reported to NHS England’s elective recovery board in eight out of 24 months when the target was live. The reporting that did take place showed a reduction in follow-up appointments of only 0.1% (between June 2022 and July 2023). NHSE then dropped the 25% target and it has been removed from operational planning guidance and reporting packs.22