The NHS waiting list for routine hospital treatment in England has risen to 7.37 million, marking the highest figure since October 2025. This increase comes as senior health leaders warn that the health service is already showing “ominous signs” of the pressures that typically accompany the winter months.
According to new data, the number of people waiting for elective care grew for the second consecutive month. At the end of August, an estimated 7.37 million treatments were pending, affecting 6.24 million individual patients. These figures have intensified scrutiny on the government’s pledge to treat 92% of patients within 18 weeks by 2029.
Record Summer Care Meets Rising Demand
The rise in waiting lists occurred despite the NHS delivering record levels of planned care during the summer. Between June and August, the health service completed 4.7 million planned treatments, procedures, and appointments, surpassing any previous summer total. However, this surge in activity was matched by record demand for services.
September saw the busiest month on record for both accident and emergency (A&E) departments and ambulance services. Professor Frankie Swords, the national medical director for NHS England, noted that frontline teams are already encountering more patients with flu and other respiratory viruses than is typical for this time of year.
“Staff are already seeing the ominous early signs of pressure,” Professor Swords said. “Unfortunately, many people are still waiting longer than we would like them to.”
Stalled Progress on Waiting Time Targets
Analysts suggest that progress in reducing waiting times has stalled over the past year. The Health Foundation think-tank reported that referrals to the waiting list are rising at a much faster rate than the number of patients being treated. This dynamic means the service must operate at a significantly higher pace just to maintain its current position.
Sir Ciarán Devane, chief executive of the NHS Alliance, which represents hospital trusts, stated that the relentless growth in demand is placing real pressure on staff. He added that the government is unlikely to achieve its manifesto promise of hitting the 18-week target by the end of the current parliament in 2029.
Francesca Cavallaro of the Health Foundation emphasized that while staff hard work has helped reduce waiting times, the rising number of referrals makes the government’s pledge increasingly difficult to deliver. Concerns also remain regarding whether the new administration will prioritize the 18-week target with the same intensity as its predecessor.
A&E Performance and Corridor Care
Performance metrics in emergency departments also reflect the strain. The percentage of patients seen within four hours in A&E fell to 74.4% in September, down from 75.0% in August. Additionally, the number of patients waiting more than 12 hours from the decision to admit to actual admission, known as “corridor care,” rose to 50,582.
This represents a significant increase from the 44,951 patients who waited over 12 hours in August. Dr. Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, described the 13% year-on-year rise in these waits as a cause for alarm. She noted that more than 50,000 vulnerable patients waited far too long for a bed, with staff struggling to provide safe care in overcrowded departments.
The government maintains that the 18-week target is still achievable. Officials point to ongoing investments in NHS buildings and equipment to improve service productivity. They also cited the disruption caused by recent strikes by resident doctors, a dispute that has now been settled, as a factor in the current delays.
Source: BBC
