Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the average number of days taken to fill a consultant-level vacancy in each of the last five years; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the time taken to fill consultant-level vacancies on waiting list recovery rates.

The Department does not hold data on the number of days taken to fill a consultant-level vacancy nor has it made an assessment of the potential impact of the time taken to fill consultant-level vacancies on waiting list recovery rates.

NHS England published its planning guidance for 2025/26 in January 2025. This guidance sets out clear priorities for the National Health Service, including the delivery of the interim electives ambition that nationally, 65% of patients are seen within 18 weeks, along with an expected minimum 5% improvement on current performance for each trust, as set out in the Elective Reform Plan.

It is for trusts and integrated care boards to manage staffing of all professions to deliver on these priorities within their agreed financial allocations.