The scale of the backlog
England's NHS waiting list for elective treatment exceeded 7 million people at its peak. The NHS has set targets to eliminate waits of over 18 weeks — the legal standard — and over two years in particular.
What caused it
The elective care backlog grew during the pandemic as hospitals suspended routine surgery and outpatient appointments to manage Covid-19 demand. The backlog was compounded by workforce burnout, early retirements and reduced productivity.
The current plans
The NHS's elective recovery plan focuses on three areas: expanding capacity through independent sector contracts, improving productivity in existing NHS facilities, and shifting more outpatient activity to virtual appointments and primary care. The independent sector is a significant but limited resource — it does not have the specialist capability for the most complex procedures.