6 million waiting for non-emergency NHS treatment

The number of people waiting for non-emergency NHS treatment has risen to 6 million, the highest since records began 15 years ago.

35% of people are now waiting at least 18 weeks to receive treatment. This number has risen by 1.5 million since the pandemic began, and by roughly 4 million since 2010.

Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: “We went into the pandemic with record waiting lists and staff shortages after a decade of Tory mismanagement. Our NHS needs a plan to provide patients with timely, quality care.”