Plans on how to tackle the backlog of people awaiting NHS treatment in England have been delayed until later this week.
Under the last update in January there were almost six million people waiting for elective surgical procedures and it is expected this will rise further.
Prime minister Boris Johnson told the BBC that the plans, expected to be published today, will be set out later this week. Reports
Johnson added “tough targets” will be set to tackle record NHS waiting lists in England. However, it appears the targets which are set to be announced are not new but were put in place by previous Conservative governments but have not been reached for several years.
These targets include the ambition for 75% of all cancer diagnosis to be made within the early stage one or stage two by 2028. This was part of the NHS Long Term Plan published in 2019 and was repeated in the cancer plan consultation published last week.
The announcement coincided with the NHS releasing details of its ‘My Planned Care’ platform.
The platform will enable patients and their carers to access tailored information ahead of planned surgeries including information on waiting times for their provider.
It also aims to help patients better understand their expected wait while clinicians will be able to link patients to the most appropriate personalised support in preparation for their surgery.
This could include advice on prevention services such as stop smoking or diet and exercise plans, to ensure patients are fit for surgery to reduce cancellations, prevent deterioration and help them recover as quickly as possible.