Government Meets NHS Target with Two Million Extra Appointments
The UK government has achieved a major healthcare milestone by delivering two million extra NHS appointments ahead of schedule. The additional appointments, covering chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endoscopy, and diagnostic tests, were successfully provided between July and November last year—seven months earlier than originally planned. The government said it met this commitment through additional evening and weekend shifts, as well as expanded Community Diagnostic Centres, which now operate 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the achievement, calling it a “shot in the arm” for the government’s efforts to reduce waiting times and improve patient care. “We said we’d turn this around and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” he said. “But we’re not complacent and we know the job isn’t done. We’re determined to go further and faster to deliver more appointments, faster treatment, and a National Health Service that the British public deserve as part of our Plan for Change.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting echoed this sentiment, stating that the NHS is “on the road to recovery” and highlighting that the waiting list has already dropped by nearly 160,000 patients since Labour took office. He credited the progress to the end of NHS strikes, increased funding, and extended working hours in hospitals.
Still work to do to improve NHS
Despite these improvements, challenges remain. NHS England data shows that while waiting lists are declining, A&E departments are still struggling. In January, only 73% of patients were seen within four hours—falling short of the 95% target. The number of patients waiting more than 12 hours for a hospital bed after being admitted also surpassed 60,000 for the first time.
To address these issues, the government has announced a £40 million funding boost for hospitals that make the most progress in cutting waiting lists. The funds can be used for new equipment, facility upgrades, and technological advancements such as AI diagnostics and surgical robots.
The NHS’s performance will continue to be closely monitored in the coming months, with a particular focus on whether waiting times keep falling and whether hospitals can maintain the pace of additional appointments. The government has also pledged to bring 92% of elective care patients within the 18-week treatment window by the end of this Parliament.
Public satisfaction with the NHS remains mixed. A recent survey by the King’s Fund found that one in five patients received appointment letters after their scheduled date, while nearly a quarter of respondents were unsure who to contact while waiting for treatment. Critics argue that more must be done to improve efficiency and communication within the system.
While the government celebrates this early milestone, all eyes will be on whether further reforms can sustain the NHS’s recovery and deliver long-term improvements for patients across the country.
