![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/nhs-waiting-lists-hit-record-high-with-7-68-million-people-holding-on-for-treatment/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/0_NHS-figures.jpg&description=In England, around one in seven patients - a total of 7.68 million - are waiting for treatment. The latest figure is the highest number since NHS England records began in 2007 NHS waiting lists in England have hit a new record high, with 7.68 million people facing waits before starting treatment, data shows. There has been a rise in the overall list and more people are now facing long waits of a year or more compared to the previous month, according to new figures from NHS England. The waiting list for treatment has been rising over the years - it passed three million in 2014, four million in 2017, five million in 2021 and seven million in 2022. In February 2020, the last full month before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the waiting list stood at 4.57 million. Since then, it has increased by just over three million, to 7.68 million - around one in seven - as of July this year. This is up from 7.57 million in June and is the highest number since records began in August 2007. The total includes 3.18 million people who had been waiting more than 18 weeks, and 389,952 who had been waiting for over a year. It means 41% of patients on the waiting list have been on there for over 18 weeks. The NHS target is for that to be just 8% of patients. Some 7,289 people in England are also estimated to have been waiting more than 18 months to start routine hospital treatment at the end of July, up from 7,177 at the end of June. When it comes to cancer, the picture is mixed, with a rise in the number of urgent cancer referrals made by GPs to 263,696 in July, up 1% on 261,006 in June and up 10% year-on-year from 239,739 in July 2022. You can see how your local NHS trust is performing using our gadget. Simply enter your postcode, then select the relevant trust from the dropdown: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made cutting waiting lists one of his priorities for 2023, pledging in January that "lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly". Speaking on Thursday){kind=link}
In England, around one in seven patients – a total of 7.68 million – are waiting for treatment. The latest figure is the highest number since NHS England records began in 2007
NHS waiting lists in England have hit a new record high, with 7.68 million people facing waits before starting treatment, data shows.
There has been a rise in the overall list and more people are now facing long waits of a year or more compared to the previous month, according to new figures from NHS England. The waiting list for treatment has been rising over the years – it passed three million in 2014, four million in 2017, five million in 2021 and seven million in 2022.
In February 2020, the last full month before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the waiting list stood at 4.57 million. Since then, it has increased by just over three million, to 7.68 million – around one in seven – as of July this year. This is up from 7.57 million in June and is the highest number since records began in August 2007.
The total includes 3.18 million people who had been waiting more than 18 weeks, and 389,952 who had been waiting for over a year. It means 41% of patients on the waiting list have been on there for over 18 weeks. The NHS target is for that to be just 8% of patients.