NHS isn't getting better: Hospital waiting lists have RISEN again... and health service is slipping on targets for cancer treatment, new data reveals
Hospital waiting lists have risen for the first time in seven months, with the NHS also slipping further from its target on cancer treatments.
Around 6.33 million patients were waiting for 7.57 million treatments by the end of April in England, up from 6.29 million patients and 7.54 million treatments at the end of March.
The increases buck a recent trend of stable or falling waiting lists. NHS England suggested the rise may be due to seasonal fluctuation in demand.
Whatever the cause, it will come as a mid-election campaign blow to Rishi Sunak, who had vowed to reduce waits.
Official NHS performance data shows more than 300,000 people had been waiting for more than a year, compared to less than 2,000 before the pandemic.
And more than one in 10 patients now spends more than 12 hours in A&E, with the four-hour waiting time target not met since July 2015.
Separate data showed the proportion of patients being treated within two months of an urgent cancer referral slipped from 68.7 per cent in March to 66.6 per cent in April. The target is 85 per cent.
More than 5,000 patients had been waiting more than 18 months to start routine treatment, up from 4,770 in March.
Tim Gardner, assistant director of think-tank the Health Foundation, said the figures show the next government will face ‘an uphill struggle’.
‘With both Labour and the Conservatives promising big improvements in NHS waiting times, today’s figures are a stark reminder of the scale of the challenge,’ he said.
‘The waiting list for routine hospital care remains at near record levels, having virtually tripled over the last decade.
'While there has been some progress in recent months, there is still a huge mountain to climb.
'To make good on manifesto pledges, whoever forms the next government needs to prioritise stable, long-term investment in the NHS to keep pace with demand and improve services for the future.
‘This includes addressing staff shortages, modernising crumbling buildings, replacing outdated equipment and reforming the social care system. Without this, commitments to substantially cut waiting times are just empty promises.’
NHS waiting lists have been a major talking point for political leaders in the run up to July's General Election.
Rishi Sunak vowed to tackle the number in January 2023, but the list hit a record high in September, with 6.50 million patients waiting for 7.77 million treatments.
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister admitted: 'We’ve not made as much progress on cutting waiting lists as I would have liked.'
Daisy Cooper, health spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, called on Mr Sunak to apologise for failing to get NHS waiting lists down.
Sir Keir Starmer vowed that one of the first steps of a Labour government would be to bring down waiting lists by creating 40,000 new appointments per week.
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: 'This has blown a hole in Rishi Sunak’s claim that the NHS has turned a corner.
'He promised to cut waiting lists, but they are 350,000 longer today than when he became Prime Minister.
'He can’t blame NHS staff – there were no strikes last month yet waiting lists still rose. The blame lies solely with the Conservatives.'
Health charities were quick to point out the scale of the issues facing the NHS.
Mairaid McMahon, of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: 'Cancer waiting times data consistently tells a story of far too many people waiting too long for potentially lifesaving treatment to begin.
'That can’t go on, and the next government must rewrite the story of cancer care. That means delivering an improved system in England where diagnosis is made early, treatment starts quickly, and personalised support is on hand to respond to the fact that cancer can affect every part of peoples’ lives.'
NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts in England, said medics are working 'flat out' to meet targets, but are 'incredibly overstretched'
Deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery said: 'Today’s figures confirm the scale of the challenge facing the health service – and the next government – to get NHS performance back on track.
'Stress and strain are being felt right across the health service with mental health under pressure and waiting lists for community services at a record high.
'Trust leaders know they need to go further and faster for patients. With commitments to improve care for patients at the heart of their manifestoes, political parties know this too.
'The next government must work with the NHS to create a health service fit for the future.'
Patricia Marquis, executive director of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said 'there will be no place to hide for the next government' when it comes to bringing waiting lists down.
'Excuses, vague promises and unambitious levels of investment will not get patients the care they need,' she added. 'Politicians with their eyes on Number 10 need to wake up to that fact.'
Professor Vivien Lees, vice president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, also warned that the NHS needs 'significant additional investment'.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: 'As these figures show, demand for NHS services across the country remains high.
'May was a record month for urgent and emergency services, with the highest number of A&E attendances as well as being the busiest May for the most urgent ambulance call-outs, while staff delivered a record number of elective appointments for April.'
