Responding to the latest NHS performance statistics, Nuffield Trust Chief Executive Thea Stein said:
“With another 65,000 people added to the waiting list in August and the average waiting times for patients still growing, we are not seeing the turnaround in fortunes that the government and patients would hope to see.
“Clearing the list by March 2024 of those waiting longer than 65 weeks to start treatment or for routine operations is the next recovery milestone that we need to see progress on, but unfortunately, we have seen months of stagnation with progress bogged down. This lack of progress is alarming as we head into winter.
“Bringing down record waiting times is a central pledge of both main political parties but achieving this task still looks a long way off. It’s an unavoidable truth that whoever takes power at the next election will need to spend more on the NHS and healthcare. We saw an array of proposals over party conference season to address NHS pressures but what’s been promised so far will need to be built upon if we are to truly support and give NHS staff the tools they need to get waiting lists down.”
Notes to editors
- The latest monthly performance figures from NHS England can be found at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/
- The Nuffield Trust is an independent health think tank. We aim to improve the quality of health care in the UK by providing evidence-based research and policy analysis and informing and generating debate.
- For all queries or to arrange an interview, contact Simon Keen: 07780 475571/ simon.keen@nuffieldtrust.org.uk; or Eleanor Martin: 07920 043676 / eleanor.martin@nuffieldtrust.org.uk