Welcome progress on waiting list, but still a huge task ahead to recover NHS performance

Commenting on the publication today of the NHS monthly performance statistics, Tim Gardner, Assistant Director of Policy at the Health Foundation, said: 

‘Today’s data shows that patients continue to experience unacceptably long waits for hospital treatment, despite a welcome reduction in the waiting list for routine operations.

‘The hard work and dedication of NHS staff has driven a further fall in the waiting list to 7.61 million by the end of November. But there is still a very long way to go, with over 355,000 patients still having waited over a year for treatment, and making further progress over winter will be extremely difficult.

‘The health service is currently working under enormous strain, against a backdrop of prolonged industrial action and recent increases in seasonal flu and Covid-19. In December, over 44,000 patients spent over 12 hours waiting on trolleys in A&E departments as no bed was available – ten years ago, the number was 21. While winter is inevitable, the constraints holding the NHS back and fuelling the current crisis are not.

‘Further measures to improve NHS performance and productivity are essential. Concrete action is needed to build and support the workforce, boost infrastructure and technology and reform the broken social care system. Without this, patients will continue to face unacceptable waits to access NHS care.’

Media contact

Billie Morgan
Billie.morgan@health.org.uk
020 7257 8000