Responding to research by the Health Foundation that new surgical hubs could speed up efforts to tackle hospital waiting lists, the chief executive of NHS Providers, Sir Julian Hartley said:

"Trust leaders and their teams have seen first-hand how having dedicated staff and resources in NHS surgical hubs can drive down waiting times, increase procedures and benefit patients.

"They’re doing everything they can to ensure patients are seen and treated as quickly as possible.

"But with waiting lists rising for the third month in a row, trust leaders know that they need significant investment in staff, buildings and equipment across all NHS sites- including hospitals and surgical hubs- if they’re going to make a real dent in waiting times for patients."