The NHS has delivered more than 3.1 million additional
appointments since July 2024 and hit the ambitious faster
diagnosis standard for cancer, new figures show today.
Monthly performance data shows that there were more than 3.1
million additional appointments delivered in the seven months
from July 2024 (3,106,424 elective operations, outpatient
appointments and diagnostic tests up until January 2025) meaning
that the overall waiting list fell for the
sixth month in a row in February.
The backlog dropped to 7.4 million with a reduction of 26,000
compared to the previous month. The estimated number of patients
waiting in February stands at 6.24 million.
Thanks to the efforts of NHS staff, more than four fifths (80.2%)
of people received the all clear or a definitive cancer diagnosis
within four weeks - the highest proportion on record.
This meant more than 200,000 people were diagnosed or given the
all clear for cancer in February within 28 days (203,371) – 8,000
more than the previous month. (195,366)
As part of the ambitious elective care reform
plan published earlier this year, the NHS is aiming
to return to the constitutional standard of treating 92% of
patients within 18 weeks by March 2029.
NHS staff continue to make progress against the standard, with
the number of people waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment the
lowest figure in two years (3,020,973 compared to 2,994,638
in February 2023) and 59.2% of patients treated within 18 weeks
in February.
Around 1.46 million treatments were delivered by staff in
February, 5% higher than the same period pre-pandemic (1.39
million in February 2020).
Waits of over a year fell for the ninth month in a row, dropping
by more than 111,000 since last year (304,919 in February 2024)
to 193,516 in February 2025, making up just 2.6% of the overall
waiting list – the lowest percentage since August 2020 (2.6%).
Separate monthly data out today found that despite it being the
busiest March ever in A&E - with more than 77,000 A&E
attendances each day - waits of 4 hours in A&E and all
categories of ambulance response times were improved on both the
month and year before, as hardworking staff continue to bring
down waits for urgent and emergency care.
There were 1.8 million (1,791,316) A&E attendances admitted,
transferred or discharged within four hours last month - the
highest number in six years (since 1,797,984 in April 2019) and
three quarters of all patients (75%), up from both the month
(73.4%) and the year previous (74.3%).
Category 1 ambulance response times were the fastest in almost
four years (7:52) – since May 2021 (7:25) – despite
services facing the busiest March ever for ambulance incidents
(772,322 incidents compared to 765,396 in March 2021)
The average response for category 2 ambulance calls (28:34) was
almost 3 minutes quicker than the month previous (31:22) and more
than 5 minutes quicker than the same month last year (33:51).
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical
Director said: “Today's figures are yet more
evidence of signs of genuine progress across a range of services
and thanks to the ambitious elective reform plan, the NHS and the
government are determined to continue on this trajectory for the
benefit of patients.
“It is fantastic to see that a record proportion of people have
received vital results from cancer checks within the four-week
standard, despite more people continuing to come forward, helping
to give people clarity with that all-important diagnosis so they
can plan next steps in terms of treatment or the relief of the
all clear.
“Despite services facing the busiest March ever in A&E and
for ambulance incidents, staff continue to bring down waits for
urgent and emergency care, but we know there is much more to do
to reduce waits and delays across all NHS services.
“We continue to ask anyone noticing worrying symptoms or in need
of care to come forward for all important checks.”
Health and Social Care Secretary said: “We made a promise to the
British public that we would create 2 million more appointments
for patients in our first year – today we've already dwarfed this
target and have reached 3.1 million additional appointments in
the first 6 months.
“Today's data also shows we have cut the waiting list for the
sixth month in a row, by a total 219,000 since July, with fewer
patients waiting over 18 weeks which can have significant
benefits on their health outcomes.
“Through this government's Plan for Change, we are starting to
see a real difference. Fixing our NHS is a long road and this is
just the start – but we're doing the work and delivering for
patients.”
