NHS likely to fall ‘a long way short’ of waiting times target – think tank

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By Jane Kirby, PA Media

The NHS is likely to fall “a long way short” of a waiting times target pledged by the Labour Government in 2024, a health think tank has said.

Analysis by the Health Foundation suggests that, if recent trends continue, patients will wait around twice as long for treatment in 2029 as the 92% within 18 weeks target laid out by the former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Instead, 92% of patients will be treated within 35 weeks by the end of Parliament, the Health Foundation suggested.

The 18-week target for treatment in England has not been met for around a decade and currently only around 65% of waits are under 18 weeks, NHS England data shows.

While the NHS has made progress in reducing waiting times since Labour came to power, the Health Foundation points to a rise in referrals for treatment.

These are predominantly coming from GPs referring patients, with the total at the moment being 21.7 million a year.