Call to publish workforce plan as waits reach new record

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Surgeons called for official publication of the plan to solve NHS doctor shortages after waiting lists reached a record high.

7,331,974 were on the NHS waiting list in England at the end of March while a target to eliminate waits of 78 weeks has been missed, it was announced yesterday.

It followed a week in which newspapers reported leaks from the long-awaited NHS workforce plan – but no plan materialised.

The NHS England data showed 10,737 patients still waiting for 78 weeks. The organisation said there had been “remarkable” progress.

NHS England pointed to improvements in ambulance waiting times – which it said are at the lowest in two years. Category two waits are now on average 28.5 minutes.

Royal College of Surgeons vice-president Tim Mitchell said: “Staff have worked incredibly hard in some of the most difficult circumstances the NHS has ever faced to clear these waits. Record staff vacancies, high levels of COVID-19 and flu over the winter, and industrial action have all hampered recovery efforts. NHS teams will be doing all that they can to eradicate these waits as soon as possible.