The number of people waiting for NHS treatment in England increased by more than 1,650 in July as numbers continued to remain above 7.6 million people for another month, according to official data.
The data showed the number of referral to treatment (RTT) pathways where a patient was waiting to start treatment was 7,624,600 in July, up from 7,622,949 in June.
Estimations for the number of unique patients remained at around 6.4 million, unchanged from June.
Of the 7.6 million awaiting treatment, in 290,326 cases patients were waiting for more than a year, in 50,860 cases they were waiting more than 65 weeks, in 2,738 cases they were waiting more than 78 weeks, and in 107 cases they were waiting more than two years.
In 58.8% of cases the patient had been waiting up to 18 weeks, so not meeting the 92% standard.
During July 2024, 1,863,194 new RTT pathways were started, 330,538 pathways were completed as a result of admitted treatment and 1,274,604 were completed in other ways where patients were not admitted.
For those pathways where the patient was waiting to start treatment at the end of July 2024, the median waiting time was 14.0 weeks. The 92nd percentile waiting time was 44.1 weeks.
Accident and emergency pressures
Commenting on the figures, Tim Gardner, assistant director of policy at the Health Foundation, said: “The waiting list for routine treatment remained close to record levels in July, with the number of cases stuck at over 7.6 million.
“The impact of the pressures is also being acutely felt in emergency departments during what has been the busiest summer for accident and emergency in over 15 years.
“In August, over 28,000 patients waited more than 12 hours in emergency departments for a hospital bed.”
Deeply entrenched issues
Brett Hill, head of health and protection at independent consultancy Broadstone, said: “The deeply entrenched issues facing the NHS means that the 7.62 million backlog and deteriorating service quality are more than just administrative problems – they are a crisis that is impacting the lives of millions.
“As these problems mount, employers are increasingly stepping up to fill the gaps left by the overstretched NHS,” Hill said.
“By expanding the coverage of their health benefit schemes and implementing a wider range of preventative and remedial services, they are not only improving access to healthcare for their employees but also relieving pressure on NHS services and contributing to overall economic activity.
“Employers’ proactive approach in providing comprehensive health benefits is a crucial part of the solution to the NHS crisis.
“By leveraging the growing role of employers and boosting access to the private health market, the government can foster a more sustainable and efficient healthcare system while alleviating demand on NHS services while it creates a long-term strategy for the NHS.
“Collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential to navigating this crisis and ensuring that quality healthcare remains accessible to all.”
