Surgeons: Waiting‑time target met, but capital investment needed to sustain progress
14 May 2026
With data published today showing that the NHS has met its interim target of 65% of patients starting treatment within 18 weeks by March 2026, the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) has said this progress is a testament to the hard work of NHS staff and the impact of recent reforms. Changes to outpatient pathways and new waiting list initiatives are beginning to deliver real improvements for patients.
However, RCS England warned that while reform plans are moving in the right direction, patients are still feeling the effects of long‑standing constraints on NHS surgical capacity. Without sufficient theatres, beds and modern infrastructure, progress will remain fragile and difficult to sustain.
The latest NHS consultant‑led referral to treatment (RTT) waiting times data for March 2026 show that 65.3% of patients started treatment within 18 weeks, meeting the interim target. The overall waiting list has fallen to 7.11 million – the lowest in three and half years.
Commenting on the figures, Mr Tim Mitchell, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), said:
“It is good news for patients that the interim target of 65% of referrals receiving treatment within 18 weeks by March 2026 has been met.
“NHS staff are working flat out, and reforms to the way care is delivered, including changes to outpatient pathways and new waiting list initiatives, are beginning to make a real difference.
“However, long-standing under-investment in NHS capacity, including delays to the New Hospital Programme, continues to limit what hospitals can deliver. Too many teams are still working in ageing buildings with too few theatres and beds, and without addressing these constraints, progress for patients already waiting will remain fragile.
“There is still a long way to go to reach the constitutional standard of 92% by March 2029. This is the moment for the Government to double down on the progress driven by staff through reform by backing it with urgent capital investment to expand surgical capacity - without it, that target risks slipping beyond reach.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. The latest Public Accounts Committee report states that many New Hospital Programme (NHP) schemes may not be completed until 2045-46, adding that the NHP is now the government’s main estates strategy: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/9512/new-hospital-programme-update.
2. The NHS maintenance backlog is now estimated at £15.9bn: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-2024-25
3. Latest NHS England RTT data is available at: Statistics » Referral to Treatment (RTT) Waiting Times
4. Latest data on the UK surgical workforce: UK Surgical Workforce Census — Royal College of Surgeons
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.
6. 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.
However, RCS England warned that while reform plans are moving in the right direction, patients are still feeling the effects of long‑standing constraints on NHS surgical capacity. Without sufficient theatres, beds and modern infrastructure, progress will remain fragile and difficult to sustain.
The latest NHS consultant‑led referral to treatment (RTT) waiting times data for March 2026 show that 65.3% of patients started treatment within 18 weeks, meeting the interim target. The overall waiting list has fallen to 7.11 million – the lowest in three and half years.
Commenting on the figures, Mr Tim Mitchell, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), said:
“It is good news for patients that the interim target of 65% of referrals receiving treatment within 18 weeks by March 2026 has been met.
“NHS staff are working flat out, and reforms to the way care is delivered, including changes to outpatient pathways and new waiting list initiatives, are beginning to make a real difference.
“However, long-standing under-investment in NHS capacity, including delays to the New Hospital Programme, continues to limit what hospitals can deliver. Too many teams are still working in ageing buildings with too few theatres and beds, and without addressing these constraints, progress for patients already waiting will remain fragile.
“There is still a long way to go to reach the constitutional standard of 92% by March 2029. This is the moment for the Government to double down on the progress driven by staff through reform by backing it with urgent capital investment to expand surgical capacity - without it, that target risks slipping beyond reach.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. The latest Public Accounts Committee report states that many New Hospital Programme (NHP) schemes may not be completed until 2045-46, adding that the NHP is now the government’s main estates strategy: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/9512/new-hospital-programme-update.
2. The NHS maintenance backlog is now estimated at £15.9bn: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-2024-25
3. Latest NHS England RTT data is available at: Statistics » Referral to Treatment (RTT) Waiting Times
4. Latest data on the UK surgical workforce: UK Surgical Workforce Census — Royal College of Surgeons
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.
6. 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.