The NHS is approaching winter in a “bad shape”, experts have warned, as new figures showed that the number of people waiting for routine hospital treatment in London has increased.
A total of 1,223,056 patients were awaiting treatment in the capital the end of August, a rise of 7,614 on the month before.
More than 6,800 people were waiting more than 65 weeks for treatment in London, casting fresh doubt over whether the NHS will meet its target to eliminate 65-week waits by September.
But the data showed that London hospitals are continuing to make progress treating patients with the longest waits, with figures showing that the number of people waiting more than 78 weeks fell by 191 per cent in a six-month period.
Surgeons warned that the target to eliminate waits over 65 weeks for planned NHS treatment was likely to be missed.
Professor Frank Smith, Vice President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: “Too many patients continue to have to live in pain and anxiety, potentially unable to get back to work and help grow our economy.
“If the new government wants to show it is serious about meeting its pledge to cut waiting times, it must provide capital funding for NHS buildings and IT in the Autumn Budget later this month. With reports of broken lifts and flooded corridors in hospitals leading to cancelled operations, and surgeons telling us access to operating theatres remains an issue, cutting waits will remain an uphill battle without this investment.”
Nationally, the figures showed that the waiting list had climbed to its highest level for 10 months.
An estimated 7.64 million treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of August, relating to 6.42 million patients – up from 7.62 million treatments and 6.39 million patients at the end of July, NHS England said.
These are the highest figures since October 2023.
Tim Gardner, Assistant Director of Policy at the Health Foundation, said: “The Government has pledged to create an NHS ‘fit for the future’, but achieving this will need reforms to be matched by investment.
“We estimate an additional £38bn is needed to significantly improve the NHS and tackle long waits by the end of this Parliament. The upcoming Budget is a crucial opportunity for the Government to start showing how it intends to turn its ambitions into reality.”
Health minister Karin Smyth said: “Today’s data is a reminder of the pressures that A&Es continue to face after the busiest summer on record for hospitals up and down the country. It is vital that we continue to support our fantastic staff who are working day and night to care for patients.
“With the winter months approaching fast, we have laid out our plans with NHS England to make sure the system is prepared. This includes using virtual wards to support patients out of hospital, making sure pharmacies are supporting general practice during this busy period and running the annual winter vaccination campaign, including offering RSV vaccines to vulnerable groups for the first time.
“This government is working at pace to radically reform the NHS through the 10-Year Health Plan, focusing on three big shifts from analogue to digital, sickness to prevention and hospital to community, so the NHS can be there for us when we need it, once again.”
