400,000 patients waiting for NHS treatment since last Autumn Statement

EMBARGO: 22:30 Tuesday 21st November

• The NHS backlog has grown to 7.8 million since last year’s Autumn Statement, with almost 400,000 waiting for treatment since before November 2022

• Liberal Democrat Leader calls on the Chancellor to bring down NHS waiting lists to get people back to work and boost economic growth

• Ed Davey: “Any plan for economic growth needs a plan for urgent NHS action. Without a new NHS plan, tens of thousands of people will be left out of work, in pain, desperate for treatment.”

Nearly 400,000 patients have been on a waiting list to start NHS treatment since before last year’s Autumn Statement, research by the Liberal Democrats has been revealed. 

This new analysis of NHS figures shows a staggering 391,122 patients have been stuck in a backlog waiting for consultant-led treatment since before last November’s Autumn Statement.  Meanwhile, the number of patients stuck on NHS waiting lists has increased to 7.8 million, up 700,000 compared to last year.

It comes as new polling by the Liberal Democrats found that one in seven working age adults (15%) say they’ve had to take a significant length of time off work in the past year as they wait for NHS treatment or surgery for a health condition. 

The Liberal Democrats are warning that these treatment backlogs are damaging economic growth and will continue to impact both the economy and people’s quality of life without a significant rescue package.

The party is calling on the Government to include a new NHS plan with a robust series of measures to support the health service through this winter and longer term in the Autumn Statement. The Lib Dem NHS plan includes a strategy to boost GP numbers by 8,000, a major boost to cancer treatment services including funding for 200 new radiotherapy machines, expansion of mental health services and extra support for social care, including a new Carer’s Minimum Wage.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey MP said: 

"People are suffering in pain and our economy is being dragged down by a Conservative Government failing our NHS. The constant chaos and in-fighting of this Government has seen Ministers too busy fighting off sleaze and scandal instead of focusing on reducing their record NHS waiting lists.  

“Any plan for economic growth needs a plan for urgent NHS action. Without a new NHS plan, tens of thousands of people will be left out of work, in pain, desperate for treatment. People are being forced out of work because they can’t get speedy healthcare treatment.

“Investing in our healthcare system needs to be a priority in the Autumn Statement, otherwise we will find ourselves in an economic stalemate with an ever growing backlog of patients.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

NHS stats: 

The latest NHS referral to treatment data shows 391,122 people have been waiting for longer than a year to start receiving consultant-led treatment after being referred. 

Figures published in November 2022 show that 7.14 million were on waiting lists for NHS treatment in September 2022. The latest figures published in November 2023 show that figure had risen to 7.77 million by September 2023. 

The full data from NHS England can be found here.

Polling:

Polling methodology: Savanta interviewed 2,235 UK adults aged 18+ online between 10th and 13th November 2023. Data were weighted to be representative of the UK by age, sex, region and social grade. Full details here.

Which of the following have you experienced in the last year? Base: All respondents who are currently working (n=1,305)

Liberal Democrats are calling for an emergency funding boost for the NHS and social care including:

Delivering 8,000 more GPs to create 65 million more appointments every year.

Urgently reforming NHS dentistry to end dental deserts and DIY dentistry.

Giving the NHS 200 new radiotherapy machines and training 3,400 extra cancer nurses.

Preparing for urgent pressures this winter to avoid a new crisis, with an immediate boost to NHS staffed hospital bed capacity and ambulance services.

Tackling the black hole in adult and children’s social care services, and giving care workers a proper pay rise.

Reversing Conservative cuts to vital public health services in local communities, such as children's health services and drug and alcohol services.

Proper mental health support, by rolling out community walk-in centres for children and young people and providing every school with a qualified mental health practitioner.