NHS waiting list rises to 7.7m in England

Latest figures show that a record 7.68 million people are now on a waiting list in England, representing nearly one in seven people and a jump of over 100,000 in a month.

The rising number means the prime minister’s promise to bring down waiting lists is under threat.

The news comes as ministers have announced an additional £200m for the NHS this winter, on top of a £250m boost announced earlier in the year, which is helping to pay for 5,000 additional hospital beds and 10,000 virtual beds where patients are supported at home.

Health secretary Steve Barclay said that he wanted to see “high impact” interventions to help see the NHS through the winter.

The waiting list includes people needing routine treatments such as hip and knee replacements, and Mr Barclay added that the ongoing strikes were having an impact, driving up the numbers and “harming” patients.  He did, however, point out that progress had been made, as the long waits of over 18 months were close to being eliminated.

However, the number of patients waiting longer than 12 months is climbing.

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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.

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