Surgeons respond to new report on waiting times: government must act in autumn budget

Surgeons respond to new report on waiting times: government must act in autumn budget

Responding to new Health Foundation analysis on the Government’s progress in bringing down elective waiting times, Mr Tim Mitchell, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said:

“While there are signs NHS trust are inching closer to meeting the 18-week target, it is too early to be confident about definitive progress. Some of the recent falls in waiting lists may simply reflect “unreported removals” rather than more patients receiving treatment. 

“This analysis otherwise confirms what surgeons see every day: the NHS is still struggling to meet demand, and unless surgical capacity expands, the government will almost certainly fall short of its target. 

“The autumn budget is a vital opportunity to put this right. Many hospitals are working in outdated buildings with ageing equipment. Capital investment in surgical hubs, diagnostics and operating theatres is essential if the NHS is to expand capacity and deliver substantial reductions in waiting times.” 

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. Find out more about the Health Foundation: https://www.health.org.uk/
2. QualityWatch’s analysis of the planned care waiting list, including the impact of a validation “sprint” in April on the size of the waiting list. This was a time-limited initiative to identify and remove pathways from the waiting list which no longer require treatment. The full QualityWatch analysis is available here: Why is the planned care waiting list coming down and what does the data really tell us? | Nuffield Trust  
3. NHS England’s latest consultant-led referral-to-treatment waiting times data is available here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/rtt-data-2025-26/#Jul25  
4. The total waiting list stood at 7,402,796 in July 2025. 

5. 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.