BOA response to King's speech

The commitment to reduce waiting times in the NHS is of course welcome.

The Government must recognise that to make any significant impact on the waiting lists it must ensure that trauma and orthopaedic services – the largest of the specialties – are made a priority by the NHS and are not ‘switched-off’ at the first signs of pressure on the system.

These procedures are not ‘elective’ they are ‘planned essential care’ which people cannot live their lives without. Unacceptable long waits and cancellation of appointments have a devastating impact on a patients’ health, wellbeing, independence and their ability to contribute to economic activity - an overriding Government priority repeatedly highlighted by both the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the Prime Minister.

Any initiatives taken to tackle the waiting lists must look at creative ways to increase productivity not simply expect surgical teams to work longer weeks, spend less time with patients or reduce training and assessment activities.

Government should also look to meet the repeated requests by NHS England for resources to increase the core bed base, secure universal access to fracture liaison services as soon as possible (the commitment of 2030 is by no means ambitious) and ensure fit for purpose adult social care services to support people before and following their surgery – the absence of any recognition in the Royal Address of the need to address social care is disappointing.