The backlog for routine hospital care in England has shrunk to its smallest size in nearly three years, according to the latest official figures, offering a glimmer of progress in the health service's long recovery.
Significant Drop in Planned Treatment Backlog
Data released by NHS England shows that an estimated 7.31 million planned treatments were queued at the end of November 2025, relating to 6.17 million patients. This marks a decrease from 7.4 million treatments and 6.24 million patients recorded at the end of October.
The current total represents the lowest point for the waiting list since February 2023, when it stood at 7.22 million. It is a notable reduction from the record peak of 7.77 million treatments and 6.50 million patients seen in September 2023 under the previous Conservative administration.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting seized on the figures as evidence of government action. "For too long, patients were promised change in the NHS but saw little of it," he stated. "This Government is turning promises into change people can actually feel."
He highlighted that waiting lists are down by over 312,000, with more patients receiving treatment within the 18-week target. "November saw the second biggest monthly drop in waiting lists in 15 years," Streeting added, attributing the improvement to record investment, modernisation, and NHS staff effort.
Winter Pressures and A&E Crisis Persist
Despite the positive trend for planned care, the NHS continues to grapple with severe strain in emergency services. The number of people enduring 12-hour waits in A&E from decision to admit to admission reached 50,775 in December 2025, slightly up from November.
Analysis by the Press Association reveals that annual 12-hour trolley waits hit a grim new record in 2025, having risen consistently every year since 2013. NHS England reported its busiest year on record, with 27.8 million A&E attendances in 2025.
Tim Gardner of the Health Foundation called the 554,018 over-12-hour waits in 2025 a "grim milestone," stating it was a sign of "just how bad things have got in our emergency services."
Winter viruses are compounding the pressure. In the week ending January 11, an average of 2,725 flu patients were in hospital daily, while norovirus cases occupied 567 beds each day—a 57% weekly increase.
Experts Urge Caution and Highlight Underlying Challenges
Health policy experts welcomed the drop in the waiting list but cautioned against over-optimism. Sarah Scobie, deputy director of research at the Nuffield Trust, noted the "big drop" was encouraging after months of stagnation.
However, she pointed out that the balance between new referrals and treatments delivered hadn't shifted significantly. "A lack of transparency about this can sometimes create an illusion that the NHS is delivering more care than it is," Scobie warned, suggesting data cleaning exercises might explain part of the reduction.
The data shows that in November, about 346,300 patients were removed from the waiting list for reasons other than receiving an appointment, up from 264,000 the previous month. The exact reasons are unclear but may include administrative adjustments.
Rory Deighton of the NHS Confederation acknowledged the "significant drop" was welcome but stressed the NHS remains "incredibly busy" with unsafe bed occupancy levels and rising staff sickness. He warned of a "long way to go" to hit key targets, citing constrained finances and the threat of further industrial action.
On that front, Health Secretary Streeting admitted on Times Radio that the Government and striking doctors remain "far apart" on pay, despite more constructive talks.
While the number of patients waiting over 18 months fell to 1,500, and those waiting over 65 weeks dropped to 9,521, the interim target of getting 65% of patients treated within 18 weeks by March 2026—a step towards the 2029 pledge—remains challenging, with the November figure at 62%.
