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Red box 3 · Prime Minister

Addressing NHS Waiting List Backlog

Decided

The current NHS waiting list stands at 7.4 million, with patients facing lengthy delays for elective procedures. This has led to increased pressure on the healthcare system and concerns about patient outcomes. The Prime Minister must decide how to allocate additional funding to address this issue. The options below outline different approaches to reducing the waiting list. The decision will have implications for the NHS, public finances, and the government's approval ratings.

  1. Increase NHS Funding(chosen)Allocate an additional £1 billion to the NHS to hire more staff and increase capacity, which is expected to reduce the waiting list by 0.1 million
  2. Private Sector PartnershipPartner with private healthcare providers to offer additional capacity and reduce waiting times, which may increase house prices in areas with new facilities but is expected to reduce the waiting list by 0.05 million
  3. Efficiency SavingsImplement efficiency savings and streamline NHS processes to reduce waste and allocate resources more effectively, which may lead to a small increase in unemployment among administrative staff but is expected to reduce the waiting list by 0.05 million

Decision

Sir Oliver Howard KG KC MP chose Increase NHS Funding on 5 Nov 2026, 20:23.

A further £1 billion to open more beds and clear the backlog. We will get the waiting list falling and keep it falling.