England's NHS waiting list rises again as NHS leaders warn of early winter pressure

Centre · 2The waiting list for hospital treatment in England rose again, with an estimated 7.37 million treatments waiting at the end of August, relating to 6.24 million patients. 1 2 Centre · 1That was up from 7.33 million treatments and 6.21 million patients at the end of July, and the highest since October 2025, when the list stood at 7.40 million treatments and 6.24 million patients. 1 Centre · 1An estimated 113,339 people had been waiting more than a year to start routine treatment at the end of August, up from 111,379 at the end of July. 1

Centre · 2The rise came despite what NHS England described as record elective activity: 4.7 million (4,738,824) planned treatments, procedures and appointments across June, July and August, more than in any previous summer. 1 2 Centre · 2NHS England's national medical director, Professor Frankie Swords, praised staff but said they were already seeing "the ominous early signs of pressure", with more patients than usual for the time of year coming to A&E with flu and other respiratory viruses, and urged eligible people to take up flu, RSV and Covid vaccinations. 1 2 Centre · 2Urgent care figures worsened in September, the busiest month on record for A&E attendances (2.44 million) and ambulance incidents: 74.4% of A&E patients were seen within four hours, down from 75.0% in August. 1 2

Centre · 1The number waiting more than 12 hours from a decision to admit to admission, so-called "corridor care", was 50,582 in September, up from 44,951 in August; those waiting at least four hours numbered 129,199, up from 118,550. 1 Centre · 1An average of 3,310 patients a day received corridor care in September (2,549 in A&E departments and 761 in other areas), up from 2,865 a day in August. 1 Centre · 2The government's pledge is that 92% of patients will start treatment within 18 weeks by the end of the current Parliament in 2029; around 65% are currently treated within that time, and the BBC notes the target has not been met for a decade. 1 2

Centre · 1Health Secretary Yvette Cooper called the record elective numbers a "huge tribute" to NHS staff, said the NHS was increasing its delivery "step by step", and warned pressure would increase again with winter. 1 Centre · 1The BBC reports that the government says the 18-week mark could still be achieved, pointing to investment in buildings and equipment and to disruption caused by resident doctors' strikes, a dispute now settled. 2 Centre · 1Outside bodies were more sceptical: Sir Ciarán Devane of the NHS Alliance, which represents NHS trusts, said the NHS faced "relentless growth in demand", and the BBC says the Alliance believes the 2029 target will not be met. 2

Centre · 2The Health Foundation said progress had stalled over the past year because referrals were rising faster than treatments; its Francesca Cavallaro said the service was running "faster just to stand still", while its Tim Gardner said extreme summer heat had hampered performance and ministers faced a choice between chasing the headline pledge or setting a more realistic goal. 2 1 Centre · 2The King's Fund's chief executive Sarah Woolnough said waiting lists had grown by more than 120,000 since the start of the year and criticised short-term "sprint funding" as a "sugar rush", calling for more fundamental action on prevention; Dr Vicky Price of the Society for Acute Medicine said a 13% year-on-year rise in 12-hour waits "should set alarm bells ringing". 1 2