Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to increase funding for NHS services to help address treatment backlogs prior to winter 2022.

We have allocated more than £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25, in addition to the £2 billion Elective Recovery Fund and £700 million Targeted Investment Fund made available to systems, to increase activity in elective services and reduce waiting times. We aim to eliminate waiting times of two years or more for elective procedures by the end of July 2022. We are also seeking alternate capacity in other National Health Service trusts or the independent sector and engaging with patients to understand the treatment options available.

An additional £50 million has also been made available for NHS 111 to support demand for urgent care and £150 million for the ambulance service. Further guidance on winter planning and priorities is expected in due course.