Technology
Waiting list for planned hospital treatment rises for third month in a row
The waiting list for planned hospital treatment in England has increased for the third consecutive month, figures show.
An estimated 7.41 million treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of August, relating to 6.26 million patients, up slightly from 7.40 million treatments and 6.25 million patients at the end of July.
The data published by NHS England also shows 191,493 people had been waiting more than 52 weeks to start routine hospital treatment at the end of August, down slightly from 191,648 at the end of July.
A year earlier, the figure stood at 282,664.
Some 2.6% of people on the list for hospital treatment had been waiting more than 52 weeks in August, unchanged from the previous month.
The Government and NHS England have set a target of March 2026 for this figure to be reduced to less than 1%.
Elsewhere, some 1,416 people were waiting more than 18 months to start routine hospital treatment at the end of August, down from 1,429 in July.
In August 2024, the number stood at 3,335.
However, the number of patients who had been waiting more than 65 weeks to start treatment increased to 12,805 from 11,950 in the previous month.
In emergency departments in England last month, some 75.0% of patients were seen within four hours, down from 75.9% in August.
The Government and NHS England have set a target of March 2026 for 78% of patients attending A&E to be admitted, discharged or transferred within four hours.
The number of people waiting more than 12 hours in A&E from a decision to admit to actually being admitted – so-called “corridor care” – stood at 44,765 in September, up from 35,909 in August.
The number waiting at least four hours from the decision to admit to admission also rose, standing at 129,035 in September, up from 115,826 in August.
Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS national medical director, said: “NHS staff made history this summer, delivering record-breaking levels of care for this time of year.
“But we’re not slowing down.
“With A&E and ambulance demand already higher than last year, staff are gearing up for a tough-looking winter.”
Danielle Jefferies, senior analyst at The King’s Fund, warned that the “green shoots of NHS recovery remain fragile” and the figures “demonstrate how shaky wider efforts to tackle waiting lists are”.
She said: “Patients are still confronted with lengthy waiting times, slower than anticipated ambulance response times, and crowded hospitals.
“Regularly missed targets for various indicators across NHS services are now a predictable occurrence each month, and it’s clear that there is a long road ahead to get the NHS back on its feet.”
The new figures come after a report by the Health Foundation claimed the Government will fall short on its pledge for the NHS to carry out 92% of routine operations within 18 weeks by the end of Parliament in 2029 if current trends continue.
It also warned placing so much emphasis on the target risks slowing progress on other important issues, such as access to GPs.
Dr Francesca Cavallaro, senior analytical manager at the Health Foundation, said: “The NHS needs a system-wide approach to recovery, one that prioritises investment, workforce resilience and long-term planning, rather than just delivering more activity.
“Failing this, the NHS will struggle to cope with both year-round and seasonal pressures without major impacts on performance and patient care.”
Elsewhere, GPs in England made 264,388 urgent cancer referrals in August, down from 305,164 in July but up year-on-year from 255,547 in August 2024.
Some 74.6% of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer were diagnosed or had cancer ruled out within 28 days, below the current target of 75% and down from 76.6% in July.
The Government and NHS England have set an additional target of March 2026 for this figure to reach 80%.
The proportion of patients who had waited no longer than 62 days in August from an urgent suspected cancer referral, or consultant upgrade, to their first definitive treatment for cancer was 69.1%, down slightly from 69.2% in July.
There is a target of March 2026 for this figure to reach 75%.
The waiting list for planned hospital treatment in England has increased for the third consecutive month, figures show.
An estimated 7.41 million treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of August, relating to 6.26 million patients, up slightly from 7.40 million treatments and 6.25 million patients at the end of July.
The data published by NHS England also shows 191,493 people had been waiting more than 52 weeks to start routine hospital treatment at the end of August, down slightly from 191,648 at the end of July.
A year earlier, the figure stood at 282,664.
Some 2.6% of people on the list for hospital treatment had been waiting more than 52 weeks in August, unchanged from the previous month.
The Government and NHS England have set a target of March 2026 for this figure to be reduced to less than 1%.
Elsewhere, some 1,416 people were waiting more than 18 months to start routine hospital treatment at the end of August, down from 1,429 in July.
In August 2024, the number stood at 3,335.
However, the number of patients who had been waiting more than 65 weeks to start treatment increased to 12,805 from 11,950 in the previous month.
In emergency departments in England last month, some 75.0% of patients were seen within four hours, down from 75.9% in August.
The Government and NHS England have set a target of March 2026 for 78% of patients attending A&E to be admitted, discharged or transferred within four hours.
The number of people waiting more than 12 hours in A&E from a decision to admit to actually being admitted – so-called “corridor care” – stood at 44,765 in September, up from 35,909 in August.
The number waiting at least four hours from the decision to admit to admission also rose, standing at 129,035 in September, up from 115,826 in August.
Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS national medical director, said: “NHS staff made history this summer, delivering record-breaking levels of care for this time of year.
“But we’re not slowing down.
“With A&E and ambulance demand already higher than last year, staff are gearing up for a tough-looking winter.”
Danielle Jefferies, senior analyst at The King’s Fund, warned that the “green shoots of NHS recovery remain fragile” and the figures “demonstrate how shaky wider efforts to tackle waiting lists are”.
She said: “Patients are still confronted with lengthy waiting times, slower than anticipated ambulance response times, and crowded hospitals.
“Regularly missed targets for various indicators across NHS services are now a predictable occurrence each month, and it’s clear that there is a long road ahead to get the NHS back on its feet.”
The new figures come after a report by the Health Foundation claimed the Government will fall short on its pledge for the NHS to carry out 92% of routine operations within 18 weeks by the end of Parliament in 2029 if current trends continue.
It also warned placing so much emphasis on the target risks slowing progress on other important issues, such as access to GPs.
Dr Francesca Cavallaro, senior analytical manager at the Health Foundation, said: “The NHS needs a system-wide approach to recovery, one that prioritises investment, workforce resilience and long-term planning, rather than just delivering more activity.
“Failing this, the NHS will struggle to cope with both year-round and seasonal pressures without major impacts on performance and patient care.”
Elsewhere, GPs in England made 264,388 urgent cancer referrals in August, down from 305,164 in July but up year-on-year from 255,547 in August 2024.
Some 74.6% of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer were diagnosed or had cancer ruled out within 28 days, below the current target of 75% and down from 76.6% in July.
The Government and NHS England have set an additional target of March 2026 for this figure to reach 80%.
The proportion of patients who had waited no longer than 62 days in August from an urgent suspected cancer referral, or consultant upgrade, to their first definitive treatment for cancer was 69.1%, down slightly from 69.2% in July.
There is a target of March 2026 for this figure to reach 75%.
