NHS waiting list at lowest level in three years
Summary
The number of patients on the waiting list for hospital treatments in England has dropped to its lowest in nearly three years as of December 2025. Despite this progress, long waiting times in emergency departments remain a significant issue, with more than 71,500 patients facing waits longer than 12 hours in January 2026.Key Facts
- The NHS waiting list in England is at its lowest since February 2023, with 7.29 million patients at the end of December 2025.
- Over 71,500 patients spent more than 12 hours waiting for a hospital bed in January 2026 after being seen in A&E.
- The 12-hour waiting statistic for A&E has been recorded since 2010, and this is the highest number recorded.
- Only 61.5% of patients were treated within the 18-week target in December 2025, which is a decline from 61.8% in November.
- The government aims to meet the 92% target for treatments within 18 weeks by 2029.
- Hospital waits have improved despite challenges such as doctors' strikes.
- Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged progress but emphasized that challenges remain.
- There is significant variation in waiting times across different regions, making it harder to address care backlogs nationwide.
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