The NHS has delivered more than 3.1 million additional appointments since July 2024, according to new figures released.
This achievement has contributed to a reduction in the overall waiting list for the sixth consecutive month, with the backlog dropping to 7.4 million in February, a decrease of 26,000 compared to the previous month.
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of NHS staff, over four fifths (80.2%) of patients received either an all-clear or a definitive cancer diagnosis within four weeks, marking the highest proportion on record. In February alone, more than 200,000 people were diagnosed or given the all-clear for cancer within 28 days, an increase of 8,000 from the previous month.
As part of the ambitious elective care reform plan published earlier this year, the NHS aims to return to the constitutional standard of treating 92% of patients within 18 weeks by March 2029. Progress is being made, with the number of people waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment at its lowest in two years, and 59.2% of patients treated within 18 weeks in February.
NHS National Medical Director Prof. Sir Stephen Powis said:
“Today’s figures are yet more evidence of signs of genuine progress across a range of services and thanks to the ambitious elective reform plan, the NHS and the government are determined to continue on this trajectory for the benefit of patients.
“It is fantastic to see that a record proportion of people have received vital results from cancer checks within the four-week standard, despite more people continuing to come forward, helping to give people clarity with that all-important diagnosis so they can plan next steps in terms of treatment or the relief of the all clear.
“Despite services facing the busiest March ever in A&E and for ambulance incidents, staff continue to bring down waits for urgent and emergency care, but we know there is much more to do to reduce waits and delays across all NHS services.
“We continue to ask anyone noticing worrying symptoms or in need of care to come forward for all important checks.”
In February, NHS staff delivered around 1.46 million treatments, 5% higher than the same period pre-pandemic. Waits of over a year have fallen for the ninth month in a row, dropping by more than 111,000 since last year, making up just 2.6% of the overall waiting list – the lowest percentage since August 2020.
Separate monthly data revealed that despite March being the busiest ever in A&E, with over 77,000 attendances each day, waits of four hours in A&E and all categories of ambulance response times improved compared to both the previous month and year. There were 1.8 million A&E attendances admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours last month, the highest number in six years, with three quarters of all patients seen within this timeframe.
Category 1 ambulance response times were the fastest in almost four years, despite services facing the busiest March ever for ambulance incidents. The average response time for category 2 ambulance calls was almost three minutes quicker than the previous month and more than five minutes quicker than the same month last year.
Image credit: iStock
