LONDON: The Labour government has unveiled a bold new plan to slash NHS waiting lists, aiming to deliver routine treatment to nine in ten patients within 18 weeks. This sweeping overhaul promises faster diagnoses, same-day follow-up consultations, and a more user-friendly NHS App—all part of a bid to ease mounting pressures on the health service after a rocky first six months in power.

Under the plan, millions of patients with certain conditions will be able to get referrals for tests, checks, and scans directly from their GPs, without first needing to see a specialist. NHS officials say this change will help people receive quicker diagnoses and, in many cases, cut down on the time it takes to access vital treatments.

Labour’s latest announcement also pledges to ringfence more treatment capacity for future pandemics and seasonal illnesses, a move intended to ensure that critical resources don’t get diverted when demand spikes. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, facing low approval ratings after several unpopular decisions, is expected to flesh out these proposals in a “speechette” on Monday, focusing on how to meet the 18-week waiting time target.

A significant part of the overhaul includes revamping the NHS App, which will let patients choose providers, book appointments, and receive test results via one platform. Currently, only 8% of bookings are made online or through the app, something Labour hopes to boost dramatically.

Another key element is a new “gold standard retail offer,” mandating customer service training for non-clinical frontline staff, such as receptionists. Every acute hospital will also have a dedicated patients’ experience champion to keep those on waiting lists informed and supported.