The waiting list for hospital treatment in England has reached a milestone, surpassing 7.5 million people. This figure means that nearly one in seven of the population is now on an NHS waiting
list for routine medical procedures, including hip and knee surgeries. By the end of June, the number had risen to 7.57 million, marking an increase of 100,000 compared to the previous month.
The impact of recent strike action taken by junior doctors during June was cited by NHS England as a contributing factor to the rise. Over 100,000 appointments had to be cancelled due to the three-day strike. This surge has brought the waiting list to over three million more individuals than before the onset of the pandemic.
Among those on the waiting list, over 383,000 have been waiting for over a year. Additionally, the NHS continues to grapple with challenges in promptly treating cancer patients. In June, only 59% of patients began their treatment within 62 days following an urgent referral from a GP.
NHS England highlighted the extensive workload it has faced, with a record number of tests and checks being conducted. The number of individuals initiating cancer treatment, which nearly reached 30,000, approached a record high.
The release of this monthly data coincides with an upcoming round of strikes by junior doctors. Members of the British Medical Association are scheduled to begin a four-day walkout on Friday at 07:00 BST. NHS England cautioned patients to brace for "significant disruption" as junior doctors, who constitute nearly half of the medical workforce, participate in the strike that affects both emergency and planned care.
Consultants are also set to participate in a second walkout later in August. Professor Julian Redhead from NHS England stressed the substantial pressure on staff, especially during a summer that is on track to become the busiest in NHS history, all while industrial action continues to impede services.
Rory Deighton of the NHS Confederation, which represents hospital managers, expressed his lack of surprise at the high waiting list number and called for all parties involved to find a solution to the ongoing industrial action.