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Since the pandemic, the size the NHS waiting list has been in the headlines almost constantly. At the start of 2023, Rishi Sunak committed to decreasing the size of the waiting list as one of his ‘five priorities’, and since then it has actually gone up.
So today, we’re going to dive into the NHS waiting list - what is it? How big is it? And is there a credible plan to get it back down?
Joining us to answer those questions are Ben Zaranko and Max Warner, IFS economists who have recently published a report on the NHS waiting list.
Zooming In: discussion questions
Every week, we share a set of questions designed for A Level economics students to discuss, written by teacher Will Haines.
1. How many people are currently on the waiting list in England and how does this compare to pre-pandemic levels?
2. Apart from clinical need, explain the other factors we should consider when prioritising those who need an operation.
3. Outline the possible impact of this NHS backlog on the UK economy.
Host
Paul Johnson
Paul has been the Director of the IFS since 2011. He is also currently visiting professor in the Department of Economics at University College London.
Participants
Ben Zaranko
Ben is a Senior Research Economist and an editor of the IFS Green Budget. His work focuses on the health and social care system and UK fiscal policy.
Max Warner
Max joined the IFS in 2020 as a research economist in the Healthcare Sector, with a focus on the NHS labour force and adult social care in England.
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