NHS waiting lists remain near record levels, with millions of patients still waiting for treatment across England.
Backlogs built up during the pandemic have been slow to reduce, with ongoing staff shortages and high demand continuing to put pressure on services. While some progress has been made in certain areas, overall waiting times remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels.
For patients, this means longer waits for non-urgent procedures and specialist appointments. In some cases, delays can impact quality of life or lead people to consider private treatment as an alternative.
Watch for government targets and NHS performance updates, as well as any policy changes aimed at reducing waiting times. These will indicate whether the situation is improving or likely to persist.
Sources
NHS England / BBC