The backlog for scheduled NHS treatment in England has once again surged to a new all-time high, reaching 7.75 million patients.
By the end of August, this figure had risen by more than 100,000 compared to the previous month.
Approximately 9,000 individuals in England are estimated to have endured wait times exceeding 18 months before initiating their treatment, as indicated by the data.
All cancer-related waiting time objectives were missed, with heightened wait times for ambulance services and A&E care.
Furthermore, the number of individuals waiting for over a year for treatment also rose compared to the prior month, with just under 397,000 patients in this category.
Despite the growing waiting lists, the NHS has treated 10% more patients than pre-pandemic levels. In August, 1.42 million individuals came off the waiting list, compared to 1.29 million in August 2019.
Reducing NHS wait times has become a focal point for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
NHS England has announced that it has achieved its goal of implementing 10,000 virtual ward beds to expedite patient care in the comfort of their homes.
Patients are enduring waits for a spectrum of treatments, ranging from hip replacements to surgical procedures for cancerous tumors.
According to Prof Peter Friend from the Royal College of Surgeons of England, escalating demand, a record number of staff vacancies, and industrial actions are all contributing to the delays.
"While NHS staff continue to work diligently to reduce waiting lists, they do so in extremely challenging conditions, and this is before the pressures of winter set in," he noted.
NHS national medical director Prof Sir Stephen Powis acknowledged the continuing impact of industrial actions on healthcare services, which, combined with high demand, has added significant pressure to hospitals ahead of the winter season. In the previous month, there were more 999 ambulance calls than in any other month this year, and A&E attendances reached an all-time high for September, up nearly 8% compared to the same month last year.
Dr. Tim Cooksley from the Society for Acute Medicine cautioned that the upcoming winter months could be distressing for patients in need of care. He emphasized the prevailing challenges of high staff absenteeism, burnout, and low morale within the healthcare workforce across the UK.
He further noted, "Our concern now is that, given the current immense strain, ongoing industrial action must be resolved before the extreme pressures of winter set in."