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.

Article

Analysis: NHS performance leading into winter

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

3 December 2024

Report

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

Recent work

Article

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

Article

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".

Report

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

View all publications

Latest blogs

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

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

View all blogs

Latest news

News

NHS working hard to care for patients amid rising flu levels

Flu levels are rising at a worrying rate, with high levels of other viruses circulating as well.

19 December 2024

News

Demand unrelenting as Welsh NHS going into winter hot

Director of the Welsh NHS Confederation Darren Hughes responds to the NHS Wales performance and activity statistics for October and November.

19 December 2024

News

'Finding new ways of providing care that can ease the pressure on hospitals is absolutely essential'

Rory Deighton responds to NHS England's announcement that hundreds of thousands of older and frail patients will receive urgent treatment from home.

19 December 2024

View all news

Upcoming events

Webinar

InFocus: Politics of the NHS with Dr Layla McCay and Daniel Reynolds

Join the NHS Confederation’s Directors of Policy and Communications to hear the latest political and policy developments impacting the NHS.

15 January 2025 11:00 - 12:00 GMT

Conference

Mental Health Network Annual Conference and Exhibition 2025

Join us in Leeds as we unite leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the mental health sector.

23 April 2025 09:30 - 16:30 GMT

View all events

Stay informed

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.

Email newsletters

Keep up to date with all the latest healthcare news, views and analysis

Member forums

Convening leaders to develop solutions to shared challenges.

View other topics

Learn more