Foreword

This series has shown how trusts and frontline staff are harnessing skills, ingenuity and commitment to make a difference for patients in their work to tackle backlogs. Trust leaders understand only too well the disruption and distress these delays can cause. 

We know that despite the huge challenges the NHS faces in dealing with backlogs, alongside so many other pressures, brilliant work is being done, delivering real progress.

It is important to promote and celebrate these successes, not just in terms of elective backlogs which understandably receive a lot of attention, but also in mental health, community and ambulance services.

In doing this we have also emphasised the importance of addressing health and race inequalities which have been so harshly exposed during the course of the pandemic.

This podcast format has given voice to the trust leaders and frontline staff behind these great initiatives.

As the NHS comes under growing critical scrutiny, we will continue to highlight the great work being carried out by trusts, often in collaboration with partners in systems, to ease backlogs and to help people stay well.

Saffron Cordery

Deputy chief executive, NHS Providers