The NHS is set to deliver faster care for millions of patients under the most radical reset in a generation, as part of its new Medium Term Planning Framework – Delivering Change Together (2026/27 to 2028/29).
The ambitious 3-year roadmap will aim to cut the number of patients waiting over 18 weeks for planned care by 2.5 million, ensure 190,000 more cancer patients begin treatment within 2 months of referral, and improve access to diagnostic tests and GP appointments
The framework will strip away bureaucracy, remove outdated rules, and empower local NHS leaders to deliver care more effectively. It marks the end of short-term fixes and introduces long-term certainty to tackle systemic challenges.
Key targets include:
- 85% of cancer patients to start treatment within 62 days by 2028/29
- 96% of patients to begin treatment within one month of diagnosis
- 80% of community health service activity delivered within 18 weeks
To meet these goals, the NHS will:
- Shift more care out of hospitals into community settings
- Incentivise hospitals to treat patients via neighbourhood teams and diagnostic centres
- Improve GP access, including same-day appointments for clinically urgent cases
NHS England CEO Sir Jim Mackey said:
“For too long the NHS has been stuck in a doom-loop of not being able to properly plan beyond each financial year and responding to overly-bureaucratic processes that have stifled local leadership and innovation.
“We have to get out of the trap of short term thinking and break the cycle of ‘just about managing’.
“Today’s publication – the product of intensive work over the summer by the NHS leadership community – resets how the NHS works, aligns incentives to delivering more care and creates a clear route map by which the NHS can meet its commitments on improving access to care and get waiting times back to where patients want and need them to be.
“The NHS needs to win back the confidence of the patients and communities it serves – so starting from now, every provider across the NHS will be required to more carefully measure what patients are telling them about their experience of care and act swiftly to fix the things that matter to them.”
The framework also aims to reduce unnecessary follow-up appointments and radiology scans, freeing up clinicians to focus on patients who need care most. Tools like i-Refer and Advice and Guidance will help GPs access specialist input without hospital referrals.
By 2028/29, the NHS will ensure that 95% of appointments post-triage are available via the NHS App, whilst also fully integrating the Federated Data Platform across all providers
This digital transformation will streamline services, improve patient experience, and boost productivity across the health system.
The framework supports the 10 Year Plan and sets the foundation for a modern, responsive NHS that delivers timely, high-quality care for all.
Image credit : iStock
