Waiting lists for routine hospital treatment in England have surged to their highest level in nearly a year, with over 6 million people now awaiting care. The figures, released by NHS England, indicate that the waiting list reached 7.33 million in July, marking the most substantial number since October 2025 when it stood at 7.4 million.
These figures represent approximately 6.21 million individuals, some of whom are awaiting more than one procedure. Data revealed that over 111,000 patients have experienced delays exceeding a year, with nearly 1,500 waiting for over 18 months, and 235 cases surpassing the two-year mark. The reported delays encompass treatments for gynaecology, orthopedics, digestive issues, and physiotherapy, following non-emergency GP referrals.
The National Health Service (NHS) aims to commence treatment within 18 weeks, but only 65.4 percent of patients on the waiting list met this target. This situation arises as the health service grapples with the aftermath of its busiest summer on record, exacerbated by scorching temperatures that strained accident and emergency services.
NHS officials reported more than 7.2 million A&E attendances between June and August, an increase of approximately 240,000 compared to the same period last year. The UK experienced five heatwaves over the summer, leading experts to warn that increasingly hotter summers leave the health service less time to recover before the winter season.
Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of The King's Fund, described the situation as a 'twin crisis,' where summer has become a significant pressure point for services, similar to winter. Despite this record demand, NHS staff managed to treat, admit, or discharge nearly 5.5 million A&E patients within the four-hour target, the highest summer total recorded.
NHS national medical director Frankie Swords acknowledged the staff's efforts in delivering care under challenging circumstances. "While the NHS has been preparing for the coming winter earlier than ever before, we have never gone into winter on the back of such a heavy summer," Swords stated.
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper recognized the dedication of NHS staff, noting that despite unprecedented demand, they achieved a record number of A&E patients seen within four hours over the summer. Cooper emphasized that extreme demand on the NHS is no longer confined to winter.
In response to these pressures, the government announced £1.5 billion in funding aimed at helping NHS hospitals manage year-round demand. Meanwhile, separate figures indicate a rise in waiting times for diagnostic tests, with over 1.9 million patients in England waiting for tests necessary to begin specialist treatment, an increase of more than 170,000 from July of the previous year. The health service, however, maintains it is on track to meet its waiting time targets.