The NHS will receive a substantial funding boost to increase the number of elective procedures, aiming to deliver an additional 40,000 appointments per week. Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced the new funding today, with more details to be unveiled in the upcoming Budget. The goal is to help reduce the NHS backlog, with over seven million people currently on waiting lists across England, and 280,000 of those waiting over a year for treatment.
The funding package includes £1.5 billion to establish new surgical hubs and purchase diagnostic scanners, as well as £70 million earmarked for advanced radiotherapy equipment to enhance cancer treatment. This investment forms part of a broader government strategy to support the NHS in meeting its target of reducing waiting times, with the aim of ensuring that 92% of patients begin treatment within 18 weeks.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who described the NHS as “the lifeblood of Britain,” pledged that the government would end years of underinvestment, describing today’s funding announcement as a crucial step toward addressing the current crisis within the health service. “Our NHS exemplifies public services at their best, there for us when we need it, free at the point of use. I am putting an end to the neglect and underinvestment it has faced,” she said. Reeves added that the Budget would focus on “investment, investment, investment,” to support both the NHS and wider public services.
Lord Darzi’s recent independent report highlighted that the NHS in England is in “critical condition,” with record numbers on waiting lists. The government aims to address this through increased investment in both elective activities and essential equipment. Funding for additional radiotherapy machines and other cutting-edge technology is intended to support faster diagnostics and cancer treatment for patients across the country.
In addition to the funding, the government plans to implement reforms designed to improve NHS efficiency and effectiveness. Health Secretary Wes Streeting explained that teams of top surgeons and clinicians will be deployed across hospitals nationwide to refine surgical practices and increase patient throughput. “Our NHS is broken, but it’s not beaten. The Chancellor’s investment will help tackle the unacceptable waiting lists and put us on the path to reform,” said Streeting.
This announcement follows the launch of the government’s “Change NHS: Help Build a Health Service Fit for the Future” initiative. This national conversation is designed to gather public input on the NHS’s future, laying the groundwork for a 10-Year Health Plan. The long-term plan includes transitioning more services from hospitals to communities, modernising NHS infrastructure, and shifting focus from treatment to prevention.
The Chancellor’s budget will reveal further details of the government’s investment in technology and digital innovations aimed at boosting NHS productivity. Planned reforms also encompass sustainable funding and structural changes across the health and social care sectors.
The newly announced measures are part of a comprehensive approach to address both immediate and future needs in the NHS, as the government seeks to make the system more resilient, responsive, and fit for the future.
