Health Secretary Wes Streeting has declared the NHS is 'on the road to recovery' after new figures revealed a slight fall in the waiting list for routine hospital treatment in England.
The overall list for planned care had risen over the summer months of June, July, and August, but data for September shows a welcome reversal. An estimated 7.39 million treatments were queued at the end of September, relating to 6.24 million patients. This is down from 7.41 million treatments and 6.25 million patients at the end of August.
Government Claims Progress Amid Challenges
Mr Streeting credited government investment and modernisation for the positive trend. 'Thanks to the investment and modernisation this Government has made, waiting lists are falling and patients are being treated sooner,' he stated. He emphasised a strategy of cutting waste to reinvest billions into frontline care over the coming years.
The Health Secretary also highlighted the broader context, noting that 'the past year is the first time in 15 years that waiting lists have fallen.' While acknowledging there is 'a long way to go', he affirmed his belief that the health service is now on the path to recovery. The waiting list had previously hit a record high in September 2023, with 7.77 million treatments and 6.50 million patients.
Winter Pressures and Industrial Action Loom
This modest progress comes as the NHS braces for a difficult winter. NHS England reported that A&E attendances and ambulance incidents in October were both a record for the month. Furthermore, thousands of junior doctors across England are preparing to strike for five days from 7am on Friday.
During a visit to the Paddington Community Diagnostic Centre in Liverpool, Mr Streeting did not hold back in his criticism of the planned industrial action, labelling it as 'reckless and irresponsible'. He expressed frustration, stating his door remains open to the British Medical Association (BMA) for last-minute talks to avert the walkouts.
'I think it is so reckless and irresponsible for resident doctors to be out on strike over the coming days,' he said, warning that the action would cause significant disruption for patients and add pressure to other NHS staff already facing the seasonal surge.
Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS national medical director, echoed concerns about the challenging season ahead. 'There's no doubt NHS staff will be approaching their limits this winter,' she said, pointing to an early and potentially long-lasting flu season combined with the industrial action.
Detailed Performance Data and Targets
The latest data provides a mixed picture on specific waiting time targets:
- The number of people waiting more than 52 weeks for treatment fell to 180,329 at the end of September, down from 190,549 in August.
- However, those waiting more than 18 months saw a slight increase, rising to 1,489 from 1,418 in August.
- The Government and NHS England have set a target of March 2026 to reduce the number of people waiting over 52 weeks to less than 1%.
Performance on cancer treatment targets also slipped in September:
- The proportion of patients diagnosed or having cancer ruled out within 28 days of an urgent referral fell to 73.9%, below the 75% target.
- The 62-day wait from referral to first treatment also fell to 67.9%.
- New targets have been set for both these measures to reach 80% and 75% respectively by March 2026.
Meanwhile, pressure in A&E departments intensified in October. The number of people waiting more than 12 hours from a decision to admit to being admitted, often referred to as 'corridor care', jumped to 54,314 from 44,765 in September.
Despite the complex challenges, the government points to the overall downward trend as a sign of a turning tide. As the NHS enters a critical winter period, all eyes will be on whether this fragile recovery can be sustained.
