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.

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

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

Recent work

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 masked doctor consulting a patient.

NHS Confederation responds to the Liberal Democrats’ research on cancer waiting times

Rory Deighton comments on data which reveals that the number of people waiting longer than four months for cancer treatment has doubled since 2020

22 April 2024

A hospital building

NHS Confederation responds to the new research by the Liberal Democrats on NHS hospital buildings

Matthew Taylor responds to the new research by the Liberal Democrats on NHS hospital buildings

15 April 2024

Rory Deighton

NHS performance improvements welcome amid record demand

The NHS is still facing record demand following a very tough winter for services.

11 April 2024

Upcoming events

Blurred hospital corridor

NHS Estate Funding: Addressing Immediate NHS Performance Priorities to Support Patient Safety and Care

Capital is a scarce resource in the NHS – yet it’s in high demand. But with limits on funding, how will the NHS meet current demands?

30 April 2024 11:00 - 12:00 GMT

A diverse staff meeting.

The power of relationships and collaboration in improvement

Join us to discuss how communication, relationships and culture determine the effectiveness of interface working and improvement.

15 May 2024 11:00 - 12:00 GMT

NHS ConfedExpo - 12 and 13 June 2024 at Manchester Central

NHS ConfedExpo 2024

Join us at Manchester Central as we and NHS England unite health and care leaders and their teams at one of the biggest health and care conferences.

12 June 2024 08:30 - 13 June 2024 16:45 GMT

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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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