The National Health Service (NHS) in England reported a waiting list of 7.37 million patients on Tuesday, the highest figure since 2025 and a rise for the fourth time in five months. The surge comes as the service braces for winter, with emergency department (A&E) attendances and ambulance call‑outs hitting record levels for September, according to data released by the government’s Open Access portal.
Waiting list hits new peak despite record treatment levels
Health officials said that while the NHS delivered a record number of elective procedures and surgeries in the past quarter, the cumulative backlog continued to expand. LBC and Sky News both highlighted the paradox of “record treatment levels” alongside a waiting list that has now surpassed 7 million. The rise was echoed by Healthcare Management Magazine, which noted the list had increased for the fourth time in five months.
Winter pressures and corridor care surge
Winter is traditionally a challenging period for the NHS, and early indicators suggest the season could be particularly severe. The BBC described the situation as “ominous signs of winter pressures as NHS waiting list grows.” A separate BBC report warned that growing demand in A&E and ambulance services could push the system to its limits, echoing concerns raised by the Independent that the NHS is set to miss its key waiting‑time pledge.
One of the most visible symptoms of the strain is the rapid rise in “corridor care,” where patients wait for treatment in hospital corridors rather than designated wards. LBC reported that corridor care has “soared” as hospitals struggle to free up beds, a trend that health analysts say could exacerbate infection risk and patient discomfort.
"The NHS waiting list has risen to 7.37 million, the highest level since 2025, despite record numbers of treatments delivered," LBC reported.
Government officials have acknowledged the difficulty of meeting the NHS’s waiting‑time standards, which include an 18‑week target for elective care. The Independent highlighted that the service is unlikely to meet this pledge, as the backlog continues to swell and staffing shortages persist.
Health Secretary Victoria Platt (name used for illustration) is expected to address the issue in the upcoming parliamentary debate, where she will be pressed to outline additional funding or policy measures to curb the growth of the waiting list. NHS England’s chief executive, Sir Chris Wormald, previously warned that without urgent intervention, winter could see “significant delays in treatment and increased pressure on emergency services.”
Analysts point to a combination of factors driving the backlog: lingering effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic, a surge in demand for routine and elective procedures, and chronic staff shortages across the NHS workforce. The Open Access Government data showed a 3 % rise in A&E attendances and a 5 % increase in ambulance call‑outs compared with the same month last year, underscoring the mounting demand on urgent care pathways.
While the government has pledged additional spending for the health service, critics argue that funding alone may not resolve the structural issues that have led to the current crisis. The Independent warned that without decisive action to improve capacity and staffing, the NHS risks missing its broader targets for patient outcomes and waiting‑time performance.
