The government has unveiled a new pledge to cut the list of patients waiting more than 18 weeks for NHS treatment in England by nearly half a million over the next year.The plan, to be announced on Monday, will expand access to Community Diagnostic Centres and surgical hubs, alongside reforms designed to enhance patient choice and tackle inefficiencies.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it would create millions more appointments and “deliver on our promise to end the backlogs”.The British Medical Association (BMA) has welcomed the plan but was sceptical about whether it could be delivered.The government has billed the plan as an important milestone in a broader effort to reduce the number of people enduring long waits for appointments, procedures and surgeries.Sir Keir added: “Greater choice and convenience for patients. Staff once again able to give the standard of care they desperately want to.”A key Labour election pledge, now included in the government’s six main priorities, is for 92% of patients to begin treatment or be given the all-clear within 18 weeks by the end of this Parliament.This has been an official NHS target for some time, but has not been met since 2015. Currently, only 59% of patients meet the 18-week target, with three million people waiting longer.The latest promise is to reach 65% by March 2026, which, according to the government, would reduce the backlog by more than 450,000.A network of Community Diagnostic Centres, which provide appointments such as scans and endoscopies in local neighbourhoods, will extend their opening hours to 12 hours a day, seven days a week.The aim …
