NHS makes progress ‘in spite of strikes’ as waits fall for fourth month in a row

Health Secretary Wes Streeting during his speech at the Institute for Public Policy (IPPR) in central London (Stefan Rousseau/PA) - (PA Wire)

The waiting list for hospital treatment in England has fallen for the fourth consecutive month, although progress would be “faster” without resident doctor strikes, Wes Streeting has said.

Despite industrial action, the health service is now within “touching distance” of a key waiting time target of 18 weeks, according to officials.