No let-up in A&E pressure as NHS battles to cut longest waits

Latest NHS England figures show:

• 1.2million more A&E attendances this year compared to same period pre-pandemic
• Busiest September ever for emergency departments
• Waiting list now 7.6million despite efforts to reduce waits more than a year
• Cancer diagnosis target met for fourth month in a row

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive, NHS Providers said:

"Hard-working NHS staff are giving it all they’ve got to see patients as quickly as possible and continue to whittle down long waits for treatment in the face of relentless demand. It’s concerning that waiting lists for routine care are creeping up again.

"Ambulance response times have slipped this month, with no let-up in pressure on emergency services. The NHS has had its busiest ever summer and is heading for what is expected to be another tough winter.

"More than half a million more treatments have been provided so far this year than in 2019 and the number of people waiting longer than a year for treatment has fallen by 28 per cent compared to last year.

"But too many patients are still waiting longer for treatment than anybody in the NHS wants, right across hospitals, in the community and mental health services.

"Trust leaders want to see urgent action to address factors affecting ill health and economic inactivity which compound pressure on overstretched NHS services and for the government, armed with Lord Darzi’s diagnosis, to work with them to tackle the many challenges facing health and social care."