A&Es in England having one of the busiest summer’s ever, figures reveal – as NHS struggles to cut waiting times for routine treatment

Waiting lists for routine NHS treatment have grown for the third month in a row – although there are signs of improvements in cancer care figures.

Data shows that an estimated 7.62 million treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of June in England, relating to 6.39 million patients – up slightly from 7.60 million treatments and 6.37 million patients at the end of the previous month.

But the proportion of patients waiting no longer than 62 days in June from an urgent suspected cancer referral – or consultant upgrade – to their first definitive treatment for cancer was 67.4 per cent, up from 65.8 per cent in May. The target is 85 per cent.

Meanwhile, 76.3 per cent of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer in June were diagnosed or had cancer ruled out within 28 days.

This is down very slightly from 76.4 per cent the previous month, but is above the target of 75 per cent. It is only the fourth time the target has been exceeded since it was introduced in autumn 2021.

Waiting lists for routine NHS treatment have grown for the third month in a row – although there are signs of improvements in cancer care figures. Data shows that an estimated 7.62 million treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of June in England (stock image)

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘It will take time to turn the NHS around. But we are working night and day to get the NHS back on its feet, so it can once again be there for us all when we need it.’

While there overall numbers waiting for routine care increased, the figures show a sharp decline in those waitign for treatment. Some 2,621 patients had been waiting more than 18 months to start routine treatment in June, down sharply from 4,597 in May.

Other figures show that 75.2 per cent of patients in England were seen within four hours in A&Es last month, up from 74.6 per cent in June and the highest level since September 2021. The NHS recovery plan set a target of March this year for 76 per cent of patients attending A&E to be admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting claimed the figures ‘confirm that 14 years of Conservative neglect left the NHS broken’.

He added: ‘It will take time to turn the NHS around. But we are working night and day to get the NHS back on its feet, so it can once again be there for us all when we need it.’

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: ‘A&E staff are under significant pressure and the NHS is in the middle of what could be its busiest summer ever, with a total of 4.6 million attendances in the last two months alone and 2024 now having seen the three busiest months for A&E on record.

Louise Ansari (pictured), chief executive at Healthwatch England, said: ‘We are concerned that the progress made in speeding up both cancer diagnosis and the commencement of cancer treatment in recent months is slowing’

‘While we have seen improvements in the number of patients seen and treated within four hours in A&E, slightly faster ambulance response times, and more than three-quarters of cancer patients receiving an all-clear or diagnosis in four weeks, it is clear that waits for patients across a range of services remain unacceptable and there is much more to do to deliver more timely care for those who need it.’

Louise Ansari, chief executive at Healthwatch England, said: ‘We are concerned that the progress made in speeding up both cancer diagnosis and the commencement of cancer treatment in recent months is slowing.

‘Despite some progress on the referral to treatment target, the NHS is still falling well short of its operational target that 85% of patients wait less than two months between an urgent referral and treatment commencing.

‘Urgent action is required to ensure that timely cancer diagnosis and treatment becomes the norm for all patients in England.’