Health Services: Standards
2026-06-03 · Department of Health and Social Care · 6792 · Official question
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance NHS England has issued to Integrated Care Boards on the use of minimum waiting times; and whether prior approval is required before such policies are implemented.
Answer
There is no formal national policy supporting minimum waits in the National Health Service. However, the NHS Standard Contract allows local commissioners to set activity planning assumptions to plan demand, capacity, and expenditure.It is important to not...