NHS waiting list lowest in almost three years

The NHS delivered more elective activity in 2025 than any other year in its history, helping cut the waiting list to its lowest level since February 2023. Staff delivered 18.4 million treatments and operations in 2025, up from 18 million in 2024, as the waiting list dropped to 7.29 million. The data shows there were 1.43 million treatments delivered in December – an increase of 91,775 on last year.

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