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<p>Cutting waiting lists is one of the Prime Minister’s top priorities. To reduce
the National Health Service’s waitlist, the Department plans to spend more than £8
billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25. This funding will expand capacity by creating a new
network of community diagnostic centres, and maximising all available independent
sector capacity. In addition, we are managing demand through specialised advice in
primary care, and giving patients more control over where they receive their care.</p><p>To
reduce waiting times for elective surgeries specifically, we are transforming the
way the NHS provides elective surgeries, by increasing activity through dedicated
and protected surgical hubs. £1.5 billion of funding has been awarded for the development
of new surgical hubs and the expansion of surgical hub sites, as well as increased
bed capacity and equipment, to help elective services recover. The hubs will focus
on providing high volume low complexity surgery, as recommended by the Royal College
of Surgeons of England. There are currently 100 elective surgical hubs that are operational
across England, as of March 2024. These surgical hubs help to separate elective care
facilities from urgent and emergency care.</p>
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