NHS waiting lists in England hit record high

NHS figures for the end of May show that a record 7.47 million people are currently waiting to start routine hospital treatment, up from 7.42 million in April – the highest number since records began in 2007.

385,000 people have been waiting for longer than a year to start treatment.

The prime minister has said that ongoing industrial action was making it “more challenging” to bring down waits, but the pandemic, long-standing staff shortages and other factors have also contributed to the increasing number of people awaiting treatment.

Tim Mitchell, vice-president of the Royal College of Surgeons in England, said that despite the significant effort that NHS staff are putting in to get patients seen quickly, the situation remained challenging.

He added “It is disappointing, but not unexpected, to see the NHS waiting list grow to yet another record high this month.  The longer patients remain on waiting lists, the longer they aren’t able to get on with their lives.

“In the most serious cases, patients will be unable to work and will need support to carry out the day-to-day tasks that most of us take for granted.”

NHS national medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said “Every new month brings more evidence of record demand across many areas of NHS care, with staff experiencing the busiest June ever for A&E attendances, no doubt exacerbated by the record high temperatures experienced for that month.

“This ongoing pressure on services is precisely why it is so important to highlight that staff continue to make progress in reducing the longest waits for care despite strikes, high demand and Bank Holiday weekends.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s Legal 500 recommended West Yorkshire medical negligence solicitors, have over 20 years of experience and specialist expertise in medical negligence investigations and claims, supporting injured clients and their families through the legal process and helping them obtain answers, justice and compensation after life-changing events.  We have offices in Huddersfield, Wakefield, Halifax, Leeds, Bradford and Morley and represent clients locally and nationally.

If you or a relative have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence lawyers on the freephone number below or e-mail us.

Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

Freephone : 0800 304 7382