Flagship NHS pledge hanging in the balance - experts

The article discusses the NHS's struggle to meet its 18-week waiting time target for treatment. A think tank, the Health Foundation, has warned that the target is unlikely to be achieved by 2029 based on the current rate of progress. The article highlights that the NHS has been facing significant challenges in recent years, with growing demand for services and limited resources. As a result, waiting times for treatment have been increasing, and the 18-week target has become increasingly difficult to meet. The Health Foundation's analysis suggests that the NHS would need to reduce the number of patients waiting more than 18 weeks by around 1.8 million to meet the target. However, the current rate of progress is not sufficient to achieve this goal. The article emphasizes the importance of the 18-week target as a key measure of the NHS's performance and its ability to provide timely and effective care to patients. The failure to meet this target could have significant implications for the health and well-being of the population.