Three million on NHS England waiting lists have had no care since GP referral

The data raises doubts about Keir Starmer’s repeated pledge that 92% of patients will be treated within 18 weeks of referral by 2029. Photograph: Jeff Moore/PA Media

Almost half of the 6 million people needing treatment from the NHS in England have had no further care at all since joining a hospital waiting list, new data reveals.

Previously unseen NHS England figures show that 2.99 million of the 6.23 million patients (48%) awaiting care have not had either their first appointment with a specialist or a diagnostic test since being referred by a GP.