The King's Fund responds to latest NHS performance stats

Responding to the latest NHS performance statistics, David Maguire, Senior Analyst at The King’s Fund said: 

‘This month there have been encouraging signs that some areas of NHS performance are improving – for example, the number of people waiting more than 78 weeks for routine care has fallen by over 40 per cent in the past 12 months. However, overall pressures within the NHS remain stubbornly high and there are now 7.2 million people waiting for the planned hospital care they need to improve their health and wellbeing. 

‘There is also still lots of uncertainty over what pressures the NHS will face in coming months, with waits for emergency care getting worse and delays in discharging hospital patients still much higher than we would expect to see, and the potential for more sustained industrial action by growing numbers of NHS staff which will have a significant impact on NHS care. 

‘There is a real risk that as spring approaches we begin to slip into thinking that the NHS crisis will be over, but the sad reality is that the NHS is in a never-ending winter where pressures are persistent and long standing. To truly begin to break this cycle, the government must provide the funding the NHS needs to turn the upcoming NHS workforce plan into a genuine opportunity to recruit and retain more staff.’ 

Notes to editors

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The King's Fund is an independent charity working to improve health and care in England. We help to shape policy and practice through research and analysis; develop individuals, teams and organisations; promote understanding of the health and social care system; and bring people together to learn, share knowledge and debate. Our vision is that the best possible health and care is available to all.