NHS Waiting Lists Hit Record High Amid Doctor Strikes
The NHS in England is struggling like never before. Waiting lists have soared to a staggering 7.75 million at the end of August, smashing records since data began in 2007. This shocking rise comes despite Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s pledge to slash waiting times.
July saw 7.68 million waiting, but the number keeps climbing. The ongoing doctors’ strikes are a major culprit, forcing hospitals to cancel roughly 10,000 outpatient appointments. The government admits these walkouts are seriously hampering the NHS’s efforts to get waiting lists under control.
Thousands Face Waits of Over 18 Months
Nearly 9,000 patients in England have been waiting more than 18 months for routine hospital treatment — a massive jump from 7,289 the month before. This is despite promises to wipe out waits beyond 18 months by April, except for complex cases or patients choosing to wait longer.
Even longer waits are climbing. At the end of August, almost 400,000 people had been waiting over a year for treatment, up from nearly 390,000 in July. The NHS aims to end these year-long waits by March 2025.
A&E Chaos: Record Waiting Times
Emergency departments are buckling under pressure. In September, over 33,000 patients waited more than 12 hours from decision to admit to actual admission — a 15% rise on August but still better than last December’s nightmare of 54,573.
Waiting four hours or more also increased by 5%, reaching 125,829 in September. Just 71.6% of A&E patients were seen within four hours, down from 73% the previous month. The NHS wants to improve this to 76% by March 2024.
Cancer Care Delays Surge
Cancer patients are facing dangerous delays. Nearly 24,000 waited over 62 days following an urgent GP referral by early September — up from 21,000 in early August. Most are still being tested, but about one in seven has cancer and is waiting for treatment.
The government aims to cut these waits back to pre-pandemic levels of around 13,463 by March 2024. Currently, only 62.8% of cancer patients get treatment within two months of referral, well below the 85% target.
The NHS is under immense strain — and the crisis shows no sign of easing. With striking doctors and soaring numbers of patients, the UK’s health service faces a rough road ahead.
