The NHS waiting list has reached its lowest point in two years. New data from the health service shows that the waiting list for procedures and appointments has dropped from 7.42 million to 7.39 million, also making it the first April drop since 2008. Waiting times for planned care had also dropped since July 2022, despite increasing demand. Health leaders credited the progress to NHS staff and recent reforms for providing millions of treatments and providing care to effectively clear the backlog.
- Health leaders respond to £29 billion NHS boost
- Government sets out to end NHS waiting list backlogs, amidst concerns of low staff levels
- Progress made in tackling ‘historic’ treatment waiting list
‘We are putting the NHS on the road to recovery after years of soaring waiting times, by providing record investment and fundamental NHS reform,’ said Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting. ‘Thanks to our interventions and the hard work of NHS staff, the overall waiting list has now fallen in April for the first time in 17 years – dropping by almost a quarter of a million since we took office. This is just the start. We’ve delivered millions of extra appointments since July, and we are pushing on with our mission to get the NHS working for patients once again as we deliver our Plan for Change.’
Despite the positive figures, health leaders warned that major challenges remain in meeting long-term NHS performance targets. While further investment has been announced by the Chancellor to deliver 4 million additional diagnostic tests, scans and procedures over the next five years, health leaders claim that ongoing reform in areas such as outpatient care will be essential. Health authorities such as the NHS Confederation have claimed that only half of their members are confident that the Government will reach its 2026 targets for elective care without capital funding.
‘This new data shows that the hard work of NHS leaders and their teams is paying off, with waiting lists falling to their lowest level in two years and A&E performance increasing despite incredibly high demand,’ said Rory Deighton, Acute Network Director at the NHS Confederation. ‘But our members know there is still a long way to go to further drive down waiting lists and hit the 18-week target. The solution lies in the radical redesign of pathways, particularly outpatient services, alongside continued capital investment.’