England’s National Health Service (NHS) is once again under the microscope as the number of people waiting for hospital treatment has climbed for the third consecutive month, reaching a staggering 7.41 million by the end of August 2025. This uptick, reported by multiple sources including BBC and The King’s Fund, underscores the persistent challenge the government faces in tackling the backlog—a central promise that has shaped recent health policy debates.
This latest figure represents a slight increase from July’s 7.40 million and marks a worrying reversal after a period of modest improvement earlier in the year, when waiting lists had dropped to 7.36 million in May—the lowest since March 2023. However, the number of unique patients waiting is estimated to be around 6.3 million, as some individuals are on multiple treatment pathways, according to NHS England data reviewed by The Independent.
Digging deeper into the numbers reveals the scale of the challenge. Among those waiting, 191,493 patients had been on the list for more than a year, 1,416 had been waiting over 18 months, and 168 people had endured waits of more than two years. The median waiting time for patients at the end of August 2025 was 13.4 weeks, with the 92nd percentile waiting time stretching to a daunting 42.2 weeks. The government’s own target is for 92% of patients to begin treatment within 18 weeks, but only 61% of cases met this standard—far short of the goal.
The situation is equally challenging in emergency departments. In September, more than 44,000 patients waited over 12 hours in A&E for a bed, an increase from the previous month. The proportion of patients seen within four hours in A&E dropped to 75.0% in August, down from 75.9% in July, and below the March 2026 target of 78%. The number of patients waiting at least four hours from the decision to admit to actual admission also rose, reaching 129,035 in September, up from 115,826 in August. These long waits have led to what’s been dubbed “corridor care,” as patients are left waiting in hallways for beds to become available.
Meanwhile, urgent cancer referrals have also slipped, with only 74.6% of cases seen within the target time in August—below the 75% standard and well short of the March 2026 goal of 80%. General practitioners made 264,388 urgent cancer referrals in August, down from 305,164 in July, but up from 255,547 the previous year. This mixed progress highlights both the pressure and the incremental gains in some areas.
Despite these daunting statistics, NHS officials are keen to emphasize the positive. Between June and August 2025, a record 4.60 million elective cases were managed—an increase of 138,000 compared to the same period last year. The NHS also delivered nearly 7.5 million tests and checks, over a quarter of a million more than in summer 2024, and a record 654,640 patients received a cancer diagnosis or had the disease ruled out within the target 28 days. This was achieved despite five days of strikes by resident doctors in late July, which resulted in 54,095 postponed appointments and procedures, and during a time when many staff were on summer leave.
Health Minister Stephen Kinnock was quick to defend the NHS’s performance, describing the summer of 2025 as “record-breaking” for the number of tests and checks performed. "We know there’s more to do – that’s why we’re pressing ahead with new surgical hubs, evening and weekend scans, and cutting-edge technology to get millions more patients treated on time," Kinnock told BBC. He also pointed to £29 billion in extra funding for 2025 and highlighted the government’s Plan for Change, which includes initiatives like hospital league tables, an NHS online portal, and increased pay for social care staff.
But not everyone is convinced these measures will be enough. Danielle Jefferies, a senior analyst at The King’s Fund, warned, “The green shoots of NHS recovery remain fragile. While there have been slight improvements in patient experience surveys, these monthly figures demonstrate how shaky wider efforts to tackle waiting lists are. The latest figures show another small decline in the proportion of people seen for planned treatment within the 18-week target and a rise in the overall waiting list.”
Jefferies added that patients continue to face lengthy waiting times, slower ambulance response times, and crowded hospitals. "Regularly missed targets for various indicators across NHS services are now a predictable occurrence each month, and it’s clear that there is a long road ahead to get the NHS back on its feet," she said, echoing concerns voiced by many health commentators.
The pressure is not just on patients, but also on NHS staff and infrastructure. Professor Peter Friend of the Royal College of Surgeons of England warned that without urgent investment in NHS infrastructure and support for staff wellbeing, “progress on reducing waiting times will remain slow. Surgeons are ready to do more but are held back by critical resource issues—a lack of operating time, staff vacancies, and equipment. Patients deserve better.”
Rory Deighton, representing the NHS Confederation, expressed frustration that waiting lists have continued to rise despite the tireless efforts of NHS teams. "NHS leaders and their teams are working incredibly hard to boost productivity. So it is deeply frustrating that waiting lists have gone up for the third month in a row," he said.
As the government gears up for the November Budget, the central conundrum remains: how to keep costs down while resolving industrial action, preparing for the winter surge, and improving long-term performance. Dr Francesca Cavallaro of the Health Foundation stressed the need for a system-wide approach, “one that prioritises investment, workforce resilience and long-term planning, rather than just delivering more activity. Failing this, the NHS will struggle to cope with both year-round and seasonal pressures without major impacts on performance and patient care.”
On the political front, the government is keen to show progress, especially as the end-of-parliament deadline for its 18-week target looms ever closer. Yet, as Cavallaro and others note, the current trends suggest the government will fall just short of its headline pledge. The government’s focus on new surgical hubs, expanded scanning hours, and technology is seen as a step in the right direction by some, but critics warn that these efforts may not be enough without addressing deeper systemic issues.
Winter is fast approaching, and with it, the specter of even greater demand on NHS services. Health leaders, analysts, and ministers alike acknowledge the coming months will be a stern test for an already stretched system. The stakes could hardly be higher—not just for the millions waiting, but for the credibility of the government’s health agenda and the future of one of Britain’s most cherished institutions.
All eyes will be on the NHS as it navigates the pressures of winter, industrial unrest, and the relentless demand for care, with the hope that those fragile green shoots of recovery can finally take root.
