No targets for the NHS

MINISTERS have refused to set a target for when the enormous NHS backlog will be cleared despite billions of pounds of fresh spending.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said it was ‘impossible to know’ when patients who have had treatment disrupted by the pandemic will finally get seen.

Rishi Sunak will use his Budget to commit a further £5.9billion to help clear the record waiting list of 5.7million people.

But Mr Javid said he could not commit to solving the backlog by 2025, warning how waiting times are likely to get worse before they get better. Critics claim any funding will be undermined by staff shortages.