What are the key NHS targets?
The performance against key NHS targets varies depending on the type of treatment and location in the UK (yes, there is a postcode lottery).
There are the three main NHS targets related to physical health. They are sometimes called ‘Key Performance Indicators’ (or KPIs). Latest data is shown below.
This curret performance data mainly from the House of Commons library (July 2024).
1. 18 week elective (planned care) target – including operations and procedures
18 week target = 92% of patients should have definitive treatment within 18 weeks of referral from GP to hospital (e.g. GP to hospital consultant for an operation like a hip replacement).
It is also called te Referral to Treatment (RTT) Target
Currently 58% achieve the 18 week target.
In September 2024, the median waiting time for such a treatment was 14.0 weeks, which is almost double the pre-COVID median wait of 7.5 weeks (in July 2019).
In July 2024, the waiting list stood at 7.6 million cases, with nearly a half of these (3.1 million) waiting over 18 weeks, and about 290,000 waiting over a year for treatment.
The 18 week target was last achieved in February 2016.
2. 4 hour A&E target
4 hour target = 95% of patients should be admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours.
Currently 60% achieve the 4 hour target. This means almost all patients going through ‘majors’ (the sicker patients) will breach the 4 hour target.
In March 2024, the average waiting time was:
- 5 hours and 7 minutes (if you are admitted)
- 2 hours and 37 minutes (if you are not admitted).
The total number of patients waiting over 12 hours was 28,500 in August 2024.
The 4 hour target was last achieved in July 2015.
3. 31/62 day cancer targets
There are 3 cancer targets:
- Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS) = 28-days wait from referral (by your GP) to being given a cancer diagnosis (at least 75%; yes, quite a weak standard)
- 31 day target = 31-days (one month) wait from decision to treat to first treatment (96%)
- 62 day target = 62-days (two months) wait from referral to first treatment (85%)
Currently 92% of patients achieve the 31 day target and 68% achieve the 62 day target. Average time to treatment data is not collected.
The (previous) two-week target (2WW) was last achieved in December 2015. The FDS took over from it in April 2021. Hence there is no good long-term data yet.
And there are three main targets related to mental health:
4. Counselling target
75% of people referred to IAPT (counselling) programmes should begin treatment within 6 weeks of referral, and 95% within 18 weeks
5. Psychosis target (severe mental illness, e.g. schizophrenia)
For those having their first episode of psychosis, 50% should receive NICE-recommended treatments within 2 weeks of referral
6. Eating disorder target
95% of children and young people (up to the age of 19 years), referred for assessment or treatment for an eating disorder, should receive NICE-approved treatment – within 1 week if the case is urgent, and 4 weeks if the case is non-urgent.
Consequences of key target performance
Extended wait times have a significant correlation with poor patient outcomes, more errors, diminished patient satisfaction. This not only affects the patient’s health but also leads to increased healthcare (and economic costs in the long-term).
All of this leads to huge frustration amongst patients.
Most of these targets are your legal right under the NHS Constitution.
Note 1. Most of the data above is for England. Targets are different in the 3 nations, though performance is similarly poor
Note 2. There are no well-known GP targets. MyHSN thinks there should be.
Summary
We have explained what are the key NHS targets. They are the 4 hour A&E target, 18 week Referral-to-treatment (RTT) target, and the 31/62 day Cancer Targets. There are no well-known GP targets. There should be.
We are very sorry that we are not hitting them at present. The British public deserve more. We will try our best to improve.
