Association statement on the Government's elective reform plan
6 January 2025
While any plan that aims to reduce NHS waiting lists and enable patients to receive diagnoses faster is to be welcomed, we are concerned that without a significant increase in workforce it is difficult to see how it can become a reality.
It is estimated there is currently a shortage of 1900 consultant anaesthetists in the UK and – despite repeated calls to address this – there are large number of resident doctors unable to get training places in the specialty.
It is difficult to see how the expansion of ring-fenced elective capacity announced in the plan can succeed without action to address the workforce shortages at the same time.