Progress on clearing long waits for NHS treatment stalls

Sarah Scobie responds to the latest performance statistics from NHS England.

Press release

Published: 10/11/2022

Responding to the latest performance stats from NHS England, Nuffield Trust Deputy Director of Research Sarah Scobie said:

“Today’s figures show no let up for NHS staff as they brace themselves for a very difficult winter ahead.

“The number of patients waiting for planned care is now firmly past the once unthinkable 7 million mark. Meeting the next stage of the elective recovery plan will be extremely difficult given progress to clear 78-week waits has stalled, and that is without the additional risks of a spike in flu cases and further Covid cases, on top of confirmed strike action. 

“Worryingly, frontline services are still waiting for extra winter funding to materialise. This funding is critical to reducing delayed discharges which continue to drive up dangerous waiting times in A&E departments, with over 30% of people spending more than four hours in A&E, and for ambulance services – the average response time to emergency calls was at a record high and over an hour.

“As the Chancellor and former health secretary prepares to unveil the Autumn Statement next week, he should be very clear about the pain that patients and staff will feel from squeezing the NHS budget any further.” 

Notes to editors

1. The latest monthly performance figures from NHS England can be found at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/

2. 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.

3. 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

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