NHS Waiting List Statistics — 7.5 Million Patients
The NHS waiting list in England stands at approximately 7.3 million people, according to NHS England data. The list has been gradually falling since its 2024 peak.
6.3 million people were waiting for NHS treatment in England as of January 2025, according to NHS England.
Approximately 412,000 patients have been waiting more than 52 weeks for treatment — over six times the pre-pandemic number of 65,000 in 2019.
The NHS waiting list has cost an estimated £2.4 billion in additional agency and bank staff in 2023/24 as services attempt to clear the backlog.
About These Statistics
The NHS waiting list in England currently stands at approximately 7.3 million people awaiting treatment, according to NHS England Referral to Treatment (RTT) statistics. This is the longest waiting list in NHS history and represents a significant increase from the pre-pandemic figure of approximately 4.4 million in February 2020.
The waiting list figure represents incomplete pathways — patients who have been referred for treatment by a GP or other clinician and are waiting for their first definitive treatment. The list includes patients waiting for elective surgical procedures, outpatient appointments and diagnostic tests across all specialties.
Of those on the waiting list, approximately 300,000 have been waiting over 52 weeks for treatment — the government's maximum standard for elective care. The target is that no patient should wait more than 18 weeks from referral to treatment, though this standard has not been met nationally since 2016.
The waiting list grew rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic as elective procedures were suspended to protect NHS capacity. At the peak of the backlog challenge, over 400,000 patients had been waiting more than 52 weeks. NHS England has set a target to eliminate waits of over 18 months by 2026 and over 52 weeks by 2025.
The human cost of waiting is significant. Research by the Nuffield Trust and others has found that patients waiting for elective care experience deterioration in their condition, increased pain and discomfort, mental health impacts, and in some cases deterioration to the point of requiring more complex treatment. The King's Fund estimates approximately 15,000 deaths per year are linked to excess waiting times.
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Based on official UK government data
How many people are on the NHS waiting list?
6.3 million people were on the NHS waiting list for treatment in England as of early 2025, according to NHS England. This is down from a peak of 7.8 million in early 2024 but remains far above the pre-pandemic level of 4.4 million.
How long is the average NHS wait time?
The median NHS wait time for elective treatment in England is approximately 14 weeks in early 2025. Around 412,000 patients are waiting more than 52 weeks, compared to only 1,600 pre-pandemic. The target is for no patient to wait more than 18 weeks.
How many people are on the NHS waiting list in 2026?
The NHS waiting list in England stands at approximately 7.3 million people awaiting treatment, according to NHS England Referral to Treatment statistics. This is the longest waiting list in NHS history. The list grew dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic from approximately 4.4 million in February 2020 and has remained at record levels since.
How long is the average NHS wait time?
The NHS standard is that patients should begin treatment within 18 weeks of referral. However, this target has not been met nationally since 2016. The median waiting time for treatment is currently approximately 14 weeks, but this masks significant variation between specialties and regions. Some specialties including orthopaedics, ophthalmology and gynaecology have median waits considerably longer than the national average.
Which NHS specialties have the longest waiting lists?
The specialties with the longest waiting lists in England include orthopaedics (approximately 640,000 patients), ophthalmology (approximately 580,000), general surgery (approximately 380,000), and gynaecology (approximately 320,000). These elective specialties were most affected by the suspension of non-urgent procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic and have seen the slowest recovery.
How did 7.3 million people end up waiting for NHS treatment? Our analysis covers the causes, categories and what happens next.
Read the full analysis →