UK Government Criticized for Failing to Meet NHS Waiting Time Targets

NHS leaders have accused the Labour government of being "disconnected from reality" as a critical report warns that patients are facing waiting times twice as long as ministers pledged.

The government had made reducing long waits a central policy, vowing that 92 percent of patients would be treated within 18 weeks of referral by July 2029. However, new analysis from the Health Foundation indicates that the average wait is more likely to reach 35 weeks, based on current progress.

The think tank projects that the number of patients on waiting lists will only decrease by approximately 500,000 between July 2024 and July 2029, a reduction of just 274 patients per day, despite significant financial investment in the health service.

Previous assessments suggested that the waiting list would need to fall to 4.4 million to meet the 18-week target originally championed by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and former health secretary Wes Streeting. The Health Foundation noted that GP referrals have increased, growing by 1.5 percent in Labour's first year and 3 percent in its second. If this trend continues, the rate of patient removals from waiting lists would need to more than double to meet the target.

Researchers from the Health Foundation suggest the goal is now unachievable and have urged new prime minister Andy Burnham and health secretary Yvette Cooper to consider setting a more realistic objective. Francesca Cavallaro of the Health Foundation stated that the prospects of meeting the 18-week target by the end of the parliamentary term are "receding." She proposed that a different, more attainable target could allow for progress in elective waiting times alongside other public priorities such as ambulance services and GP appointments.

Matthew Hopkins, acute director at the NHS Alliance, which represents NHS leaders, expressed a more critical view, stating, "It is not going to happen." He emphasized the need for an honest discussion about the 18-week target, which has not been met for a decade. Hopkins cited severe financial pressures and relentless demand as reasons why the target is unlikely to be met, especially as focus shifts to other areas like social care and maternity services. He added, "Local NHS leaders are keenly aware of the pain and distress caused by long delays for planned care. They stand ready to build on the progress that's been achieved, but when policy becomes disconnected from operational reality it's patients who pay the price."

A survey by the Health Foundation and Ipsos found that over a third of the public consider improving A&E waiting times and access to GP appointments as top priorities for the NHS. Reducing staff departures by improving working conditions was also a significant concern.

The report also noted that resident doctors' strikes may have reduced elective activity, impacting progress in clearing waiting lists. Tim Lane, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, commented that at the current pace, no region is on track to meet the 18-week standard by 2029. He highlighted that the number of patients waiting over a year for treatment has risen for five consecutive months, risking that those with the longest waits could be left behind.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson stated that cutting NHS waiting times remains a "central priority" and that the government is determined to reach its 92 percent target. The spokesperson cited a reduction of nearly 300,000 people waiting for treatment since July 2024 and improved 18-week performance compared to the previous year. They also mentioned ongoing investments in the NHS estate, surgical hubs, diagnostic activity, and technology to accelerate treatment and improve waiting times.