Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to allocate NHS funding to (a) reduce joint replacement waiting times and (b) provide support to people waiting for surgery.

We have provided £2 billion this year, plus £8 billion over the next three years, to increase elective activity and address waiting times. This could deliver approximately nine million more checks, scans and procedures, including services for those waiting for joint replacement surgery. In addition, £5.9 billion will be invested in creating additional capacity, including surgical hubs to focus on procedures such as joint replacement surgery. The Department is also working with the National Health Service to utilise data and provide patients with more information about waiting times.