Many People Still Waiting Long Times for NHS Hospital Care

New reports show that many people in the UK are waiting a long time for hospital appointments and treatments. Millions are on waiting lists, and some wait over a year. The NHS is working to fix this, but it is a big challenge.
By Newsroom | Healthcare, United Kingdom |

Recent data paints a picture of persistent challenges within the National Health Service (NHS) concerning patient wait times for treatment and appointments. While official targets are in place, evidence suggests that many patients are experiencing significant delays, leading to potential impacts on health and well-being. The information gathered indicates that various factors contribute to these extended waits, and efforts to improve the situation are ongoing, albeit with mixed results.

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The Scale of the Challenge

The NHS, a cornerstone of public healthcare, is grappling with a substantial backlog of patient treatments. This issue is not new, but it has been exacerbated by a combination of factors. The urgency to address these delays has been highlighted by government priorities, yet the reality on the ground suggests a complex and demanding environment for healthcare providers.

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  • Persistent Delays: Data indicates a significant number of patients are waiting for planned treatments. For instance, November 2025 saw 7.31 million cases on the waiting list, with approximately 2.75 million of these patients waiting for over 18 weeks.

  • Government Focus: Improving patient waiting times for planned treatment has been designated a key priority for the current parliamentary term.

  • Regional Variation: The situation is not uniform across the UK, with different regions and specific hospitals experiencing varying levels of pressure.

Understanding the Waiting List Crisis

The issue of prolonged waiting times is multifaceted. Analysis of available data reveals trends and statistics that underscore the depth of the problem. These figures are essential for comprehending the current state of NHS performance and the ongoing efforts to manage patient flow and treatment delivery.

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Referral to Treatment (RTT) Backlog

The Referral to Treatment (RTT) figures provide a crucial insight into the sheer volume of patients awaiting care. These statistics are regularly updated, offering a near real-time view of the demand on NHS services.

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  • In November 2025, the RTT waiting list comprised 7.31 million cases.

  • This number translates to roughly 6.17 million individual patients waiting for treatment.

  • A notable proportion, approximately 2.75 million, had been waiting for longer than the 18-week target.

  • Furthermore, around 154,000 patients were experiencing waits exceeding one year for treatment as of November 2025. This figure represents a decrease from the previous month's 170,000.

Pressures on Healthcare Services

The current pressures on NHS services appear to mirror those experienced in previous challenging periods, such as winter. Indicators like ambulances queuing outside hospitals and extended waits in A&E departments suggest a system under strain. This situation impacts not only emergency care but also the scheduling and delivery of routine operations.

  • System Strain: Staff are reportedly facing pressures similar to those seen in the past year.

  • Visible Bottlenecks: Ambulances waiting outside hospitals and long waits in Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments are symptomatic of these pressures.

  • Impact on Planned Care: These issues inevitably affect the ability to carry out planned operations and treatments efficiently.

National Picture vs. Local Reality

While national targets and government priorities aim to address waiting times, the actual experience for patients can differ significantly depending on their location. Efforts are being made to provide tools that allow individuals to understand the situation in their specific area.

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  • England's Target: In England, every NHS trust has been instructed to improve patient waiting times for planned treatment, with the 18-week target being a key objective.

  • National Performance: However, reports indicate that the NHS is not meeting waiting time targets in any nation.

  • Data Inclusion Criteria: Analysis in England has focused on NHS trusts with at least 5,000 people waiting for elective treatment as of November 2024.

  • UK-Wide Tracking: Tools are available to check waiting lists for A&E, ambulances, and hospital procedures across the UK by entering a postcode.

Support and Information for Patients

Recognizing the anxiety and uncertainty associated with long waits, resources have been developed to support patients. These platforms aim to provide information and guidance while individuals are awaiting their appointments or treatments.

  • My Planned Care Website: This initiative offers advice and support for patients navigating the waiting period.

  • Information Provision: It includes details about waiting times at specific hospitals and information on local support services.

  • Patient Guidance: Patients are advised to check this website for updates before contacting their hospital or GP.

Expert Perspectives and Data Analysis

Analysis from bodies like the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Nuffield Trust sheds light on the underlying causes and trends in NHS waiting times. These organizations use data to provide a deeper understanding of the system's performance.

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  • BMA Analysis: The BMA highlights that high waits for treatment are not a new phenomenon, but the current situation involves more patients than ever waiting. Their analysis in November 2025 indicated that "waiting times have rocketed" due to a combination of ongoing service pressures, the backlog of care, and chronic workforce shortages.

  • Nuffield Trust Dashboard: The Nuffield Trust provides a performance dashboard for NHS England, offering monthly data on various aspects of care, including A&E, ambulance performance, elective care, cancer, and diagnostics. This data is typically extracted from NHS England's monthly statistics.

Conclusion: A Persistent Challenge Requiring Sustained Action

The evidence gathered points to a consistent and significant challenge in managing NHS hospital wait times across the UK. While specific metrics show some month-on-month decreases, such as the number of patients waiting over a year for treatment, the overall scale of the waiting list remains a major concern. The confluence of high demand, a substantial backlog of care, and workforce pressures continues to strain NHS capacity.

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  • Key Findings:

  • Millions of patients are waiting for treatment, with a considerable number exceeding the recommended waiting periods.

  • Despite government prioritization, national targets are not being met across the board.

  • Local variations mean that patient experiences can differ markedly by region.

  • Underlying issues such as workforce shortages and service capacity contribute to prolonged waits.

  • Implications: Extended waiting times can lead to poorer health outcomes for patients, increased anxiety, and potentially higher costs for the NHS in the long term as conditions may worsen.

  • Next Steps: Continued monitoring of data from sources like the BMA and Nuffield Trust is essential. Further investigation into the specific factors contributing to delays in different trusts and regions could inform targeted interventions. The effectiveness of current strategies to alleviate the backlog and improve patient flow requires ongoing scrutiny.

Sources

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many people are waiting for NHS treatment?
In November 2025, about 7.31 million cases were on the waiting list. This is about 6.17 million different people.
Q: Are people waiting longer than they should?
Yes, about 2.75 million people have waited longer than the 18-week goal. Around 154,000 people waited over a year.
Q: Why are the waits so long?
Many things cause this, like many people needing care, a big number of past-due treatments, and not enough staff.
Q: Is this happening everywhere in the UK?
No, waits can be different in different parts of the UK. Some areas have more pressure than others.
Q: What can patients do if they are waiting?
Patients can check the 'My Planned Care' website for information about waiting times and support.