NHS waiting list is at its worst since 2025, figures show
Sky News and the BBC reported on 8 October that the NHS waiting list in England has grown, to its highest since 2025, with the BBC citing "ominous signs" of winter pressure. One report puts the list at 7.37 million treatments at the end of August, up from 7.11 million in March, the figure NHS England reported in May as the lowest in three and a half years. Sky also reported a union saying that using ambulances and corridors as treatment rooms is unacceptable.
A rising list at the start of winter makes the NHS's target of treating most patients within 18 weeks harder.
If you are waiting for treatment, check your trust's contact route and ask your GP about alternatives.
The next monthly release will say whether August was a blip or a trend.
DailyDrop U.K. edition No. 4 · Morning · THU., OCT. 8, 2026