According to figures from NHS England, the number of people in England waiting for hospital treatment has hit a new record high
A total figure of 5.6 million people in the UK had been waiting to start treatment at the end of July, up more than 100,000 on last month when the figure was standing at 5.45 million.
Sajid Javid, the UK’s Health Secretary, has said he was warned that the NHS waiting list could reach up to 13 million people without immediate action as he pledged to tackle growing numbers.
That is the largest number since records began back in August of 2007 and includes people waiting for hip and knee replacements, as well as for cataract surgery.
The number of people in the UK that were waiting for longer than 52 weeks to begin their treatment was 293,102 in July this year, which is down from 304,803 the previous month, but over three times the number waiting in July of 2020 which was 83,203.
This comes after services may be cut unless NHS England receives an extra £10bn in funding next year, groups representing the service have warned. The NHS Confederation, as well as NHS Providers have said that the money was needed to cover pandemic-related costs.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said that he has warned the NHS waiting lists could reach 13 million without immediate action as he has pledged to tackle the growing numbers.
Siva Anandaciva, who is the chief analyst at The King’s Fund, said that waiting lists for the routine NHS care have “swollen to levels last seen 15 years ago”, despite the best efforts of UK healthcare staff.
“There are over 5.6 million people waiting for care already, often in pain and dealing with the uncertainty of when they will be treated.
“All NHS services are affected, with primary care, hospital care and mental health services seeing the demand for care rise, as the immediate threat of COVID-19 recedes”, he said.
Mr Anandaciva did note that “even before COVID-19, waiting lists for treatment had substantially worsened”, and although there is new investment that is promised by the government that would be welcome, it “will not lead to an increase in the number of hospital beds or clinical staff overnight”.
“The Prime Minister is right to warn the public that waiting lists will get worse before they get better.
“To deliver on his promise to cut the backlog, the Government now needs to back the investment it has provided with a plan to ensure the NHS gets the staff it needs”, he added.
The longest hospital waits were for both trauma and orthopaedic treatment such as hip and knee surgeries, followed by general surgery such as hernia operations and gallbladder removals.
This comes after a senior government scientist and Sage member has reportedly told the i newspaper that government ministers are planning ‘firebreak’ restrictions next month if coronavirus hospital admissions stay high.
Tim Mitchell, who is the vice president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said that the overall data had shown 7,980 patients waiting over two years for their treatment.
He said: “Today’s waiting times figures show the new funding for planned surgery is sorely needed.
“Behind these eye-watering statistics are patients waiting in pain for hip and knee replacements and for heart, brain and other operations.
“Without surgery, many would be left unable to work or carry out everyday activities, their quality of life greatly diminished.
He noted that reducing the backlog will “require commitment” and a “great deal of hard work” from NHS staff.
The latest data also has also shown that the total number of people had admitted for routine treatment in hospitals within England in July of 2021 was 259,642, up 82% from the year previous (142,818).
However, this reflects the lower-than-usual figures for July of 2020, which were affected by the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
