The NHS has faced its busiest winter on record while bringing
waiting lists to their lowest for almost three years.
New figures out today show the number people attending A&E
between November and February topped 9m (9,110 591) this winter
for the first time in NHS history - along with almost 130,000
more patients handed over by ambulances compared with winter
three years ago.
Waiting times for patients this winter were the shortest in four
years as NHS planning paid off for patients. The number of
patients attending A&E who were admitted, transferred, or
discharged within four hours of arrival at emergency departments
was at its highest rate this winter (73.6%) since 21/22, when it
was 73.8%.
While the number of ambulance call outs this winter were the
highest on record, topping 3.2m (3,223,778), figures show almost
130,000 more ambulances handovers at A&E where the handover
time was known this winter (1,640,783) compared with two years
ago (1,511,758).
Despite high 999 demand, ambulance responded faster to the most
serious call outs, including for strokes and heart attacks, than
they have for half a decade (20/21) - with average Cat 2
ambulance waits down to 32:29.
Despite the record winter, the waiting list has continued to fall
and decreased to 7.25 million in January 2026, dropping by 43,666
compared to the previous month.
This represents an estimated 6.13m unique patients. Overall, the
waiting list has decreased by more than 370,000 (374,083) since
June 2024.
NHS national medical director Professor Meghana Pandit
said:
“The NHS was ready to tackle winter head on this year, which is
why despite facing record-breaking demand, staff have delivered
the shortest winter waiting times for four years - while waiting
lists have continued to fall.
“This is proof that the NHS is starting to turn a corner for
patients — but we know the job is far from done.
“For too long, too many patients have faced the indignity of
being treated in hospital corridors. That's why we're taking a
zero-tolerance approach — with hospital leaders out on the wards
and corridors making sure patients are treated with the dignity
they deserve.
“I also want to thank the public for their role in supporting the
NHS this winter – these figures show the huge impact of the
public getting vital winter jabs.”
Health and Social Care Secretary said: “After years of rising waiting
times, patients are finally starting to see things move in the
right direction – with waiting lists at their lowest level for
almost three years and more people getting treated within 18
weeks.
“Despite record demand this winter, A&E and ambulance
services improved - meaning patients are getting help faster when
they need it most, thanks to the hard work of NHS staff, better
planning and modernisation.
“But we won't take our foot off the gas. We'll keep cutting
waiting times, backing NHS staff and making sure patients get the
high-quality care they deserve.”
