The number of individuals in England awaiting routine hospital treatment has surged to a record high, with an estimated 7.68 million people on the waiting list by the end of July. This figure represents an increase from 7.57 million in June and marks the highest level since records began in August 2007. Worryingly, it also signifies the eighth consecutive month of rising waiting times.
Moreover, the data reveals that 389,952 people in England had been waiting for more than a year for routine hospital treatment by the end of July. Among them, 7,289 individuals had waited for over 18 months. These numbers are up from 383,083 and 7,177, respectively, at the end of June.
