Coronavirus LIVE updates as NHS begins to tackle backlog caused by Covid-19

The government's NHS recovery plan was unveiled yesterday and lays out the timeline for tackling record-high patient waiting lists in England.

NHS figures show that 5.7 million people were on waiting lists at the end of August - the highest figure since records began in August 2007.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid unveiled the NHS Elective Recovery Plan in the House of Commons on Tuesday and hopes that the backlog for non-emergency surgery to start reducing in March 2024.

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He told MPs that there is "now a considerable COVID backlog of elective care" with around 300,000 people now waiting longer than a year for the care they need.

"I want these people to know that the NHS is open. I want them to come forward for the care they need," Mr Javid told the commons.

Mr Javid also called for the NHS to "come together on a new national mission to fight what the virus has brought with it".

"Assuming half of the missing demand from the pandemic returns over the next three years, the NHS expect waiting lists to be reducing by March 2024," he added.

"The plan sets the ambition of eliminating waits of longer than a year, waits in elective care, by March 2025.

"With this no one will wait longer than two years by July this year and the NHS aims to eliminate the waits of over 18 months by April 2023 and over 65 weeks by March 2024."

He further announced that the government will utilise community diagnostic centres to make sure patients "get a quicker diagnosis" via "one-stop shops for checks and scans and tests".

A new online platform will also be launched - My Planned Care - which will provide patients with waiting list information in regards to non-urgent surgery.

The platform is "due to launch later this month" and will