The number of NHS national targets has been almost halved under new guidance to reform services.
The NHS is to focus on delivering faster treatment for hundreds of thousands of patients, including for planned surgeries and emergency care.
NHS England's planning guidance for the next financial year includes a streamlining of priorities and success measures - from 32 in 2024/25 down to 18 in 2025/26.
There will be a new national ambition for 65 per cent of patients to receive elective treatment within 18 weeks by March 2026, with every trust asked to deliver at least a 5 per cent improvement on their performance this year.
The new guidance sets out how NHS services will aim to see nearly 450,000 more patients treated within 18 weeks next year.
At the same time, NHS England has confirmed new national ambitions to speed up diagnosis for patients. Under the guidance, around 100,000 more people referred for urgent cancer checks will get a diagnosis or the all-clear within four weeks next year.
One of this year's key priorities for the NHS will also be improving access to mental health care, with all local systems expected to meet the Mental Health Investment Standard in 2025/26, so the share of NHS resources going to mental health increases in every part of the country.
It is hoped the reduction in targets will empower local health leaders to improve care for their patients.
Local systems will get greater spending flexibility to use funding to meet the needs of their patients.
NHS chief executive, Amanda Pritchard said: “Thanks to the incredible work of our staff, the NHS is providing more appointments, tests and treatment than ever before, helping to cut long waits – but we know there is much more to do.
“The NHS must go further and faster to improve and reform care, and today’s guidance aims to deliver more timely treatment for hundreds of thousands of patients. In what will undoubtedly be another tough financial year, the NHS will continue its relentless focus on boosting productivity and driving efficiencies for the benefit of patients and taxpayers.
“Our main focus will always be on supporting frontline teams to deliver what matters most to patients – so it is also right that we prioritise and streamline the work of NHS England to ensure we maximise frontline resources. Together with Government, we have also honed down national priorities, allowing local leaders maximum flexibility to plan better and more efficient services for their population.”
Health and social care secretary, Wes Streeting said: “If everything is a priority, then nothing is. I want to empower NHS leaders to deliver the innovation and reform required to fix the NHS, rather than overload them with targets which have failed to deliver better outcomes for patients.
“This new approach will see the NHS focus on what matters most to patients – cutting waiting lists, getting seen promptly at A&E, and being able to get a GP appointment.
“We’ve provided significant extra investment and given clear directions to trusts on what we expect, so there is no excuse for failure. We will reward high performance and drive up standards as we deliver on our Plan for Change and build a health service fit for the future.”
