The largest decrease in the NHS waiting list in England in 15 years has been reported, excluding the pandemic period. Recent monthly NHS data indicates a reduction of 86,000 in the backlog of operations and appointments, bringing the waiting list down to 7.31 million by the end of November. This marks a significant turnaround for the NHS under the Labour government after years of the waiting list growing during previous Tory administrations.
Despite this progress, unions and advocacy groups are urging the Government to accelerate the reduction of NHS waiting times by increasing investment in the healthcare system. Health Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the tangible impact of the government’s actions, highlighting a decrease of over 312,000 in waiting lists and improved treatment within 18 weeks. November also saw the second-largest monthly decline in waiting lists in 15 years, attributed to increased funding and modernization efforts in addition to the dedication of NHS staff.
The NHS elective waiting list in England had been steadily increasing for over a decade, reaching milestones of three million treatments in 2014, four million in 2017, five million in 2021, and seven million in 2022 before the Labour government took office in July 2024, ending 14 years of Tory governance.
Mr. Streeting mentioned that the government has expanded NHS evening and weekend appointments, enhanced testing at community facilities, and established specialized surgical hubs to expedite operations. The implementation of AI notetaking tools has also helped streamline the healthcare process.
However, challenges persist in A&E departments, with over 554,000 instances of trolley waits exceeding 12 hours in 2025, the highest on record. Concerns have been raised about the ongoing crisis of “corridor care” on emergency wards, as highlighted by the Royal College of Nursing.
Tim Gardner from the Health Foundation thinktank expressed concern over the strain on emergency services, attributing the current situation to years of underinvestment compounded by the pandemic. The need for urgent action to increase bed capacity, stabilize staffing, and improve hospital flow was emphasized by the Society for Acute Medicine, citing the detrimental impact of corridor care on patient outcomes.
Despite progress, challenges in A&E departments persist, with an increase in patients waiting over four hours for admission. The Nuffield Trust highlighted the stark contrast in A&E wait times before and after the pandemic, emphasizing the need for continued improvement in healthcare services.
While the government aims to address winter pressures and improve healthcare delivery, Mr. Streeting acknowledged that more work is needed to support NHS staff and ensure timely care for patients.