The backlog in routine hospital treatments in England has reached its lowest level in two years.
Data for the end of April showed that the waiting list fell to 7.39 million, compared to 7.42 million in March.
But it has been nHS for nine years to reach its target of 92% of patients observed in 18 weeks – currently, it is just below 60%.
The government has made the objective of the objective of one of its key missions for this Parliament – and Wednesday announced an increase greater than inflation for the NHS in the coming years to achieve it.
Responding to the latest figures, the Wes Street Social Health and Social Care Secretary said: “We put the NHS on the road to recovery.”
And he added that it was “just the start” as the additional investment announced in the expenses examination, which will see the NHS budget increase by 3% per year in the next three years, combined with reforms that will be announced in the plan at 10 years scheduled for next month, would help to rely on what has been achieved.
The drop in figures from the waiting list, which covers people awaiting routine treatments such as hip and knee operations, came after March saw an increase in the number – the first time in six months, the waiting list had increased.
Although a little fluctuation from one month to another was normally observed, the government said it was clear that the pending figures were on a downward trend.
The peak occurred in September 2023, when the waiting list climbed nearly 7.8 million.
Meghana Pandit, from NHS England, said the progress made was “thanks to NHS staff”.
“We are determined to continue this trajectory for patients while staff work to turn the trend of patients awaiting care, and although enormous pressure on services remains, we are starting to see a real difference between our services.”
Key objectives for cancer care and A & e continue to be achieved, although there are signs of progress, said the government.
The health services of the rest of the British nations also lack their key objectives.
Dr. Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said that significant problems were staying in England, stressing that the number of 12 -hour attentions in emergency services increased last month compared to the previous year.
He said that a major problem facing hospitals was the lack of social care available in the community.
This causes delayed discharges where patients adjusted to leave the hospital cannot go there, as they need support to go home or a care home. This slows down the capacity of hospitals to see new patients enter via A&E or for routine treatments.
He said: “Social care remains unanswered – and will do in the foreseeable future after the expenses are announced – patients will therefore continue to wait long periods and often in the corridors.
“The problem remains that, for all the rhetoric of investment, plans and solutions, the government is too focused on fast short -term victories which will not succeed in making effective and lasting changes.”
