Health Secretary Sajid Javid
(Picture: PA Wire)Sajid Javid says he does not know when the NHS backlog will be cleared as he denied reports that plans to tackle hospital waiting lists in England had been put on hold.
The Health Secretary warned the waiting list is going to “continue to rise” on Monday as a record six million patients wait for non-urgent operations.
Details of an NHS England scheme to clear the backlog were expected to be published on Monday, but the proposal has reportedly been paused after reports of a last minute intervention by the Treasury.
Mr Javid said an estimated eight to nine milion people had avoided seeking treatment during the pandemic making it hard to say when waiting list numbers would come down.
He also refuted accusations the proposal to tackle the backlog has been put on hold.
"We will publish the plan shortly. What I would say about the Treasury is that I couldn't wish for a better partner when it comes to the challenges I have. I don't recognise that (suggestion) at all.”
Plans to tackle the backlog, caused by the Covid pandemic, had been due to be published in December but had been put on hold due to the Omicron outbreak.
The Treasury reportedly refused to sign off the publication of the National Recovery Plan for the health service, according to The Telegraph.
It comes amid reports of increasing tensions between Downing Street and the Treasury.
Mr Javid on Monday announced the launch of an online platform called My Planned Care, which will allow patients to see where they are on the waiting list, compare hospital waiting times through the NHS app and receive information about non-urgent procedures.
Almost 300,000 people were unable to see a cancer specialist within two weeks of an urgent referral between April and November, according to figures from information in the House of Commons library.
According to the analysis, commissioned by the Labour Party, that is the highest number of breaches in the 11 years since the two-week target was introduced.
Commenting on the figures, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting - who underwent cancer treatment last year - said cancer care "is in crisis".
