Waiting list for hospital treatment tops “grim milestone” of five million

The number of people waiting for hospital treatment in England has topped five million for the first time, raising fresh alarm over impacts on patients.

Doctors’ and trusts’ leaders warned of unrelenting pressures on NHS staff and services while health officials said there were “encouraging” signs of a “rebound” in delivery of routine operations.

The latest monthly performance data on NHS referral to treatment show that the waiting list rose by 171 720 in April to 5 122 017.1 Some 385 490 patients were waiting over a year for treatment—50 000 fewer than in March. At the end of April 2021, 64.6% of patients waiting to start treatment were waiting up to 18 weeks, missing the 92% standard.

The Royal College of Surgeons of England said that in surpassing five million the NHS had reached a “grim milestone.”

Tim Mitchell, college vice president, said it was also concerning that 2272 people across England were waiting two years or more for treatment and such long waits were “particularly troubling.” He said, “These are people waiting for operations like hip and knee replacements, or ear, nose, and throat surgery. This is life changing surgery. Operations that can help people get back to work, relieve pain, and mean people can enjoy a decent quality of life again.”

The college renewed calls for the government to do more to clear the “gigantic” backlog, including investing an extra £1bn (€1.16bn; $1.42bn) every year for the next five years.

The Nuffield Trust said the waiting list was at its highest point since records began in August 2007 and significant pressures were building. Sarah Scobie, its deputy director of research, said a fall in GP referrals in January 2021 meant there was a “hidden patient group” who had yet to come forward and be entered onto waiting lists. She said, “The pandemic and lockdown will have stopped some people from seeking treatment. But we do not yet know the additional demand this will heap onto services in the future. Exhausted NHS staff will have a lot of work ahead to clear record backlogs, which will need to be considered carefully.”

Stephen Powis, national medical director for NHS England, said, “Despite the extensive disruption to care caused by the pandemic, it’s encouraging that today’s figures show routine operations, cancer, and mental health care have now all rebounded sharply.

“Average waits for non-urgent care have fallen to 11 weeks, and the number of people waiting over 52 weeks fell by more than 50 000 in April. Mental health services are back at pre-pandemic levels, and treatment rates for cancer are also now back to usual levels, with nearly 19 out of 20 people starting treatment for the disease within one month.”

NHS Providers’ chief executive Chris Hopson said trusts and frontline staff were working at “full pelt” and were now delivering elective operations at 90% of pre-pandemic levels, well above the 75% target they were set.

He said, “Trust leaders are aware of how frustrating long waits for care are and are doing all they can to prioritise those who need to be seen urgently. They are also worried about the increase in pressures facing the urgent and emergency care pathway, with fears that some patients are now presenting with more complex conditions because of the disruption caused by the pandemic.”