The NHS and government have set out a blueprint to address backlogs built up during the COVID pandemic and tackle long waits for care with a massive expansion in capacity for tests, checks and treatments.

The ‘Delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care’ sets out a progressive agenda for how the NHS will recover elective care over the next three years. This is in the context of restoring elective performance in the longer term. It explains how the NHS will take the opportunity to capitalise on current success and embed new ideas to ensure elective services are fit for the future.