In 2024, the Department of Health and Social Care sent teams of experts to 20 hospital trusts across England with the highest levels of economic inactivity to cut the waiting list and boost growth.
The evaluation, published today by NHS England, found that over the 12 months from October 2024 to October 2025, waiting lists in the areas fell three times faster than the rest of the country, with a 4.2% reduction compared to 1.4% nationally.
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, said: "We said our elective reform plan would get waiting lists down, and one year on that's exactly what it's delivering. Along with record investment, we're doing things differently to get patients seen quicker, back to work and living their lives."
