A “very tense” behind the scenes row over how quickly hospitals in England can be expected to reduce the massive backlog of surgery has broken out between NHS bosses and ministers. The dispute has delayed publication of the government’s “elective recovery plan”, which No 10 had indicated would be part of Boris Johnson’s “Operation Red Meat” political fightback this week.
Johnson’s plan for salvaging his premiership following lockdown-busting parties at Downing Street has been to announce a slew of populist policies, including freezing the BBC licence fee for two years.
No 10, the Treasury and the Department of Health and Social Care are pressing NHS England to ensure that hospitals do as many operations as they can as quickly as possible to tackle the backlog, which now stands at a record 6 million patients .
They want to impose “stretching and demanding” targets on hospitals, sources with knowledge of the discussions said.
However, NHS trust chiefs say the continuing impact of treating patients left sick with Covid thanks to the Omicron surge, longstanding gaps in their workforce, exhaustion at the frontline and record levels of staffsickness mean they need time to get back to doing as much surgery as they did before the pandemic.
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Borthwick claims players were unfit for start of series
Steve Borthwick has claimed his England players were not fit enough for Test rugby when they began their autumn internationals after Saturday's defeat by South Africa extended their dismal losing run.
Exciting times ahead' Carsley hails new generation as he hands over to Tuchel
Lee Carsley predicted that competition for places in Thomas Tuchel's first squad will be fiercer than ever, after his stint as England's interim head coach ended with a 5-0 thrashing of the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League.
Kane has been the defining player of a successful era, but this thing has run its course
Below the hum of the crowd every time Kane took the ball, he was rearranging his legs like a pantomime horse
Harwood-Bellis starts party as Carsley signs off with promotion
It was an England salvo of devastating power, three goals in five minutes early in the second half and it did more than reframe an occasion that had been flat and forgettable until then.
'I saw my name on the Euros list. There was shock then happiness'
Ayoze Pérez hopes to make history for Spain in Tenerife tonight after goal rush since leaving England for La Liga
Direct Doak convinces Clarke he is the present and future
Scotland's teenage forward set to keep his spot against Poland after terrorising Gvardiol in win over Croatia
Beard vents over penalty error as Everton edge derby
An exasperated Matt Beard claimed the match officials had cost his Liverpool team the Merseyside derby, after a controversial penalty enabled Everton to claim their first win of the Women's Super League season and move off the bottom of the table.
Clever Slegers impresses but Arsenal cannot rush appointment
Watching Arsenal coast to victory at Tottenham on Saturday, you could have been forgiven for forgetting that they are without a permanent manager.
Beaten, bruised England are not in crisis mode yet
Defeat by South Africa was to be expected but the Six Nations looms as kill or cure for Borthwick's project
Wright treble condemns Wales to record 11th straight defeat
Never go back. Warren Gatland must wonder if he should have heeded that apparently universal truth. After this defeat the New Zealander has overseen the longest ever run of Wales losses: 11 and counting.
