Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Prime Minister's speech on 4 January 2023 entitled building a better future, whether he plans to publish a strategy on reducing NHS waiting lists.

The ‘Delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care’ published in February 2022 sets out the action that will be taken and is already underway to support the healthcare system in England as it recovers from the disruption caused by the pandemic and to deliver the necessary reforms that are important to its long-term future.

Tacking elective care is a top delivery priority for the Government and regular updates from the National Health Service, via NHS England, to the Secretary of State are the key mechanism used to assess progress against ambitious elective recovery targets. The Department will continue to work closely with NHS England to deliver this plan, providing the necessary support and challenge to make sure it benefits patients and delivers value for money.