New figures underline the need for investment and reform to restore the NHS

Today’s statistics reaffirm the need for reform and investment to get the NHS back on its feet.

The waiting list for routine treatment grew slightly in August to 7.64 million cases. While very long waits have fallen from July, over 282,000 cases have now waited over a year compared to less than 2,000 before the pandemic. New QualityWatch analysis published today highlights that 21% of people in the most deprived parts of England say they have waited a year or more for NHS care, compared to 12% in the least deprived areas.

A&E waiting times have improved compared to last year, but urgent and emergency care remains under intense pressure. In September, nearly 39,000 patients waited more than 12 hours in emergency departments for a bed and strains on hospital capacity are likely to only get worse heading into winter.

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 (2029/30). The upcoming Budget is a crucial opportunity for the Government to start showing how it intends to turn its ambitions into reality.

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