Yesterday, the All-Party Parliamentary Health Group, met in the House of Lords to discuss the NHS Elective Recovery Plan. A year on Are we Recovering?

The panel discussion which was chaired by Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP- Shadow Minister for Mental, set out to review how far the NHS has come, explore the solutions for elective recovery and discuss the ways to better use resources to address this backlog, waiting lists and delays on treatments. The group was pleased to have colleagues present from across the health and social care sector along with Parliamentary colleagues. It was very encouraging to see such a shared commitment to tackle the issues identified and working together towards improving the backlog and waiting times across the NHS.

We heard from the following speakers:

• Sir James Mackey - NHS National Director of Elective Recovery
• Debra Padgett - President, Institute for Biomedical Science
• Professor Scarlett McNally - Deputy Director, Centre for Perioperative Care
• Urte Macikene - Policy and External Affairs Manager, Healthwatch England
• Rachel Picton - Dean of Allied and Community Health, LSBU

Some of the key point highlighted were:

• The Government should encourage advanced practice, consultant equivalent biomedical scientists in every trust to reduce diagnostic reporting backlogs.
• Remembering that workforces are the experts who understand the clinical need for diagnostic testing.
• Greater government commitments are needed on children’s services as there is a stark increase in waiting times for children’s services and community care compared to adult health services.