Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) socioeconomic impact and (b) impact on (i) patients and (ii) the general public of the backlog in elective procedures.
No formal assessment has been made. However, the ‘Delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care’ published in February 2022 acknowledges the impact of long waiting times for treatment on patients and their carers, National Health Service staff and on health inequalities. The plan aims to minimise the impact of the backlog and to ensure the inclusive recovery of elective services.