The NHS delivered more elective activity in 2025 than any other
year in its history, helping cut the waiting list to its lowest
level since February 2023.
Staff delivered a historic high of 18.4 million treatments and
operations in 2025, up from 18 million in 2024 as the waiting
list dropped to 7.29 million.
Today's data shows there
were 1.43 million treatments delivered in December - an increase
of 91,775 on last year - despite five days of industrial action
by resident doctors, thanks to staff maintaining almost 95% of
usual activity during strikes.
The percentage of people waiting over 18 weeks for treatment
slightly decreased to 61.5% while the percentage of those waiting
over 52 weeks dropped to just 1.9% - the lowest since June 2020 –
as the Elective Reform Plan continues to drive NHS services to
tackle the longest waits and ensure more people are seen quicker.
The progress comes thanks to the Elective Reform Plan, which has
led to an expansion of community diagnostic centres and surgical
hubs, creating more evening and weekend clinics, as well as
sending patients “straight to test” rather than multiple clinic
visits.
While NHS staff used innovative measures across the country
including high-intensity theatre (HIT) lists across elective
surgery hubs to maximise the number of patients treated in one
day or using robotic-assisted surgeries to speed up procedures
and increase precision - getting more patients home sooner and
recovering faster.
The data also shows demand across emergency services is showing
no signs of letting up, with the NHS on track for its busiest
winter ever.
A&E staff experienced a record high January of 2,320,266
A&E attendances - 4.6% higher than in January 2025 - while
ambulance staff have faced a record number of incidents across
December and January.
Despite this, staff continue to manage the ever-increasing
demand, with 206,800 more people admitted, transferred or
discharged in less than 4 hours in Type 1 A&E Departments
across winter so far this year when compared to last year (3.4
million in October 2025 to January 2026 vs 3.2 million in October
2024 to January 2025).
Four hour NHS performance has been at 73.5% across winter so far
– up from 72.1% last year and less than 70% the year before.
While ambulance response times are quicker than last winter –
with both Category 1 and Category 2 response times down on last
year (C1 8:08 and C2 35:04 in January 2026 vs C1 8:16 and C2
35:39 in January 2025).
Separate figures also
published today show hospitals are continuing to face the impact
of seasonal viruses - with an average of 1,119 patients in
hospital with flu and 929 with norovirus each day last week.
The Government launched the National Cancer Plan last week,
committing the NHS to meet all cancer waiting time standards by
2029, with hundreds of thousands more patients treated within 62
days.
Staff carried out 2.37 million tests and checks in December
alongside 77.4% of people receiving the all-clear or a cancer
diagnosis within 4 weeks of an urgent suspected cancer referral –
the highest proportion in nine months (76.7% in April 2025).
Duncan Burton, Chief Nursing Officer for England,
said: “Completing a historic high of elective activity
is a triumph for NHS staff who continue to innovate and go above
and beyond to treat more patients, faster.
“Thanks to early preparations and careful planning, ambulance
waits are shorter and A&E treatment times are faster this
winter – even as staff face record demand.
“We saw a great response from the public with many people getting
protected against winter viruses this year, which is paying off
for patients and keeping more people well and at home.
“With a particularly wet start to the year and cold weather
alerts issued for England over the weekend, as ever, it's really
important the public continue to come forward for care in the
usual way – by dialling 999 in an emergency and otherwise using
111 online, your local pharmacist or GP”.
Health and Social Care Secretary, said: “Despite having to deal with flu and
industrial action, the NHS has managed to continue cutting
waiting lists, thanks to a Herculean effort this winter.
“This government has cut waiting lists by more than 330,000, with
hundreds of thousands more people treated within 18 weeks. That's
not happening by chance – it's because we delivered record levels
of care in 2025.
“This progress is driven by unprecedented investment and
modernisation of our health service, and above all by the
dedication of NHS staff.
“Whether it's by opening up new community diagnostic centres,
rolling out surgical hubs to tackle backlogs, or investing in
modern equipment and technology, we are rebuilding our NHS.
“There's so much more to do, but people can take hope and
optimism from the fact that the NHS is finally on the road to
recovery.”
Yellow cold health alerts for England have been issued by UKHSA
for either side of the weekend – with temperatures expected to
drop from tomorrow until the start of next week (Friday 13 to
Monday 16 February) as temperatures have fallen in recent days to
drop below freezing which could lead to increased pressure on
hospitals, especially by vulnerable people.
