NHS Confederation responds to Amanda Pritchard's speech at NHS ConfedExpo

Commenting on Amanda Pritchard's keynote speech at NHS ConfedExpo, Matthew Taylor chief executive of the NHS Confederation said:
 
“It is fantastic to have the chief executive of the NHS in England, Amanda Pritchard with us in Liverpool to speak to over 6500 delegates from across the NHS, in the first joint conference between the NHS Confederation and NHS England. 
 
“Over the last two years NHS staff have not only worked and continue to work so incredibly hard, they have also responded to the pandemic by innovating and working in new ways to ensure patients receive the best possible care. 
 
“It is critical these innovations continue to be harnessed by the health service as it seeks to drive down the waiting list backlog, an unresolved workforce crisis and ongoing high demand. 
 
“The NHS faces a widening capacity gap, which needs urgent attention and so, health leaders will be reassured that Amanda has said NHS England will review this across hospital, community and virtual services.
 
“While the NHS will do everything it can to find the headroom to invest in improving health services and saving money into the future, we also have to be realistic, and with inflation rocketing there is only so much the health service can bear.
 
“As health leaders told in our latest poll, they are absolutely committed to further boosting NHS efficiency and productivity and will do all they can to drive down the backlog, but inflation, and especially a lack of sufficient capital funding are major barriers to driving further change and innovation.
 
“Coupled with the 105,000 staff vacancies the NHS is still carrying and the severe staff shortages in social care, the NHS is facing an uphill struggle to resolve long waits and improve the flow of patients through hospitals.
 
“Elsewhere, the newly announced NHS cancer pilot funding high street pharmacies to spot the signs of cancer highlights how vital system working will be as the NHS moves forward to tackle the unprecedented challenge it faces over the coming months and in the years ahead. It also highlights the importance of primary and community care in delivering cancer care. 
  
“The NHS is committed to highlighting the work going on across the NHS to provide the best possible care to patients, centred on innovation, early intervention and system working.”