The plan aims to restore the 18-week standard set by NHS England for treatment, with commitments including expanding the work of Community Diagnostic Centres and establishing additional Surgical Hubs.
College President, Professor Hany Eteiba said: “With waiting lists in England reaching 7.5 million, doctors share patients’ frustration that they are still waiting too long for elective care. We very much welcome action to address this issue. This strategy should also recognise that success will only come if the plan is adequately resourced.
“Currently, there are deficits in the number of specialist and skilled doctors. Providing the test, although important, does not automatically equate to enhanced treatment times. The latter necessitates an increase in qualified staff. Similarly, surgical hub expansion requires investment in the professional workforce. The key to success here is the availability of high-quality training for surgeons, otherwise we simply will not have the surgeons required to meet patients’ needs.”