Surgeons: NHS cannot cut waits without rebuilding surgical capacity

The latest NHS consultant-led referral-to-treatment (RTT) data shows that the total waiting list decreased to 7.29 million in December 2025.  

In the final month of last year, the NHS came under sustained pressure, with flu and norovirus cases reaching exceptionally high levels. One week saw an average of 2,660 patients per day in hospital beds with flu, the highest recorded for that time of year. There was also a 5-day period of industrial action.   

Figures show little progress towards the government’s interim target. Performance remained flat through September, October and November 2025, with 61.8% of patients starting treatment within 18 weeks each month. However, today’s data show that this decreased to 61.5% in December.  

Meanwhile, 140,508 patient pathways were waiting longer than 52 weeks.  

Mr Tim Mitchell, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), said: 

“December’s surge in flu and norovirus pushed hospitals to the limit, piling extraordinary pressure onto already stretched surgical services. Patients feel the impact of long waits every day: ongoing pain, loss of independence, and the anxiety of knowing their condition may worsen while they wait for treatment.  
 
"Our latest workforce census shows that access to operating theatres is the single biggest barrier to delivering care, and a £15.9 billion maintenance backlog means too many NHS buildings and theatres are simply not fit for purpose.  
 
“While it is good to see some improvement today, to meet the government’s waiting time targets we need sustained investment in modern operating theatres, ring fenced surgical beds, and the surgical workforce - surgeons, anaesthetists and theatre staff - required to run them. Without this, waiting lists will not fall quickly enough, and patients will continue to wait far longer than they should." 

ENDS 

Notes to editors: 

1. The government has pledged that by 2029, 92% of patients will begin treatment within 18 weeks of referral. As an interim milestone, the target is for 65% of patients to be treated within 18 weeks by March 2026.   

2. NHS England’s latest consultant-led referral-to-treatment waiting times data is available here: Statistics » Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times Data 2025-26 

3. The total waiting list stood at 7.29 million in December 2025. 

4. NHS England » NHS facing ‘worst case scenario’ December amid ‘super flu’ surge 

5. 2025 UK Surgical Workforce Census — Royal College of Surgeons 

6. The Royal College of Surgeons of England provides world-class education, assessment, and development to 30,000 surgeons, dental professionals, and members of the wider surgical and dental care teams at all stages of their careers. Our vision is to see excellent surgical care for everyone. We do this by setting professional standards, facilitating research, and championing the best outcomes for patients. 

7. For more information, please contact the press office: telephone: 020 7869 6053/6054/6060; email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk; out-of-hours media enquiries: 0207 869 6056.