Latest CHE Research Paper on NHS Productivity 2022/23 update

CHE researchers publish new report on NHS productivity growth - 2022/23 update.

The report provides an update on NHS productivity between 2021/22 and 2022/23, and evaluates whether the NHS system has recovered from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by determining the productivity growth between 2019/20 and 2022/23.

NHS productivity continued to grow between 2021/22 and 2022/23 by 1.05%, based on the mixed approach. However, when compared to 2019/20, productivity in 2022/23 remains lower at -9.07%. This is a considerable improvement of 4.2% percentage point compared to NHS productivity growth between 2019/21 and 2021/22; however, a significant gap still remains in NHS productivity compared to pre-pandemic years.

The report is based on independent research commissioned and funded by the NIHR Policy Research Programme (NIHR200687). The views expressed in the publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Department of Health and Social Care.

This work uses data provided by patients and collected by the NHS as part of their care and support. The Hospital Episode Statistics are copyright © 2004/05 – 2022/23, NHS England. Re-used with the permission of NHS England. All rights reserved.

Note: We are reposting this news to alert you that the CHE RP 198 has been amended to correct a mistake discovered in the report, after its publication on the 12/05/2025. The research team has issued a Corrigendum, which is available on the CHE Research Papers web page.

Read the full NHS Productivity report (CHE RP 198).