Capacity and performance

Supporting our members to address the challenge of NHS waiting time and other performance targets.

The NHS has worked tirelessly to support the country in response to COVID-19, but the pandemic has impacted on all aspects of its care, with elective and diagnostic activities among those services that have been most disrupted. This has led to a considerable backlog of people waiting for NHS treatment.

The sustained impact of the pandemic will leave a backlog of care in excess of anything seen over the last decade. Rapidly rising demand for services is now being experienced across all parts of the health system, and the NHS faces a long road to recovery.

At the same time, NHS organisations are working more effectively together to meet the challenges of addressing the backlog, using new technology and innovative approaches to service delivery to improve patient care.

Surgeons in surgery.

Achieving the 18-week standard for elective care

New CF and NHS Confederation analysis reveals why extra appointments alone will not meet the government's waiting-time pledge.

8 September 2024

An NHS sign in a car park.

System under pressure

The NHS is facing unsustainable pressures, with record demand for urgent and emergency care, increasing elective referrals and rising bed occupancy.

3 January 2023

Recent work

A run down building.

Crumbling buildings and creaking systems: does the NHS invest enough in capital?

Facts and figures on the health of the NHS estate and infrastructure.

14 November 2022

Emergency care entrance in the snow.

Analysis: the latest statistics on NHS England’s six key metrics for winter

A look at the current level of performance against NHS England’s six key metrics for integrated care boards, published last week.

19 August 2022

A road sign reading "COVID-19 test centre".

The COVID-19 inquiry: learning the lessons

Our view on the situation facing the NHS when the pandemic began, how events unfurled and core considerations for the COVID-19 inquiry.

15 July 2022

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Latest blogs

Jacob Haddad speaking at ConfedExpo.

NHS Voices blogs

A more sustainable operating model for primary care

Two key principles for a more sustainable operating model for primary care.

15 February 2024

Chris Ham

NHS Voices blogs

Shedding light on improvement at scale

Prof Sir Chris Ham shares key insights from his study of self-improving systems in England.

21 November 2023

NHS Voices blogs

The NHS has warmed to Barclay, but his biggest test is to come

What the new reforms proposed by the Hewitt review will mean for the NHS and population health outcomes.

29 March 2023

Latest news

A hospital corridor.

New figures show the NHS is running hot into a difficult winter

NHS leaders and their teams are working incredibly hard but there is a real risk services could become overwhelmed.

15 November 2024

GP taking blood pressure of older man at home visit

Welsh NHS Confederation response to the Welsh Government’s 50-day challenge to improve hospital discharge and community care

Welsh NHS Confederation director Darren Hughes responds to Welsh Government announcement of 50-day challenge for health boards and local authorities.

11 November 2024

Sarah Walter

NHS relies on functioning social care system to achieve key ambitions

Members understand that the worsening state of local government finances could have a knock-on impact on the NHS.

6 November 2024

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Health on the Line

New podcast series, hosted by Matthew Taylor, offers fresh perspectives on the healthcare challenges of our time and ways to confront them.

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Member forums

Convening leaders to develop solutions to shared challenges.

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