How Long Is the NHS Waiting List?

The NHS elective waiting list was growing before COVID-19 — rising from 2.9 million in 2015 to 4.4 million in early 2020 as demand outpaced capacity.^[1] Then the pandemic suspended most elective care for extended periods, and the list surged to a peak of 7.8 million. By early 2025 it had fallen to 7.25 million — its lowest since February 2023 — as the elective recovery programme gained traction.^[1]

The statutory target — that 92% of patients should wait no more than 18 weeks from referral to treatment — has not been met nationally since 2016.^[1] Waits of over a year have been cut sharply: 135,000 people are now waiting more than 52 weeks, down from a peak of 400,000.^[1] The longest waits are concentrated in orthopaedics, ophthalmology, and gastroenterology.

The NHS Elective Recovery Plan has targeted the longest waits and used independent sector capacity to boost throughput.^[2] Significant progress has been made — waits of more than two years have been largely eliminated, and the year-long wait list has been cut by 59% from peak — but the overall list remains 65% larger than pre-pandemic, and new referrals continue at record levels.^[1,3]