Surgeons respond to latest waiting times data amid shortfall in capital funding for NHS

The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) has said the Chancellor’s Spending Review yesterday failed to sufficiently address the urgent need for capital investment to modernise surgical theatres and hospital infrastructure, as April 2025 data for routine hospital treatment is published today. 

Latest figures show the waiting list for consultant-led hospital treatment in England has fallen, with 7.39 million patient pathways recorded at the end of April 2025. This is a decrease of more than 31,000 from March 2025. Only 59.7% of patients began treatment within 18 weeks in April 2025. In addition, 190,068 patient pathways were still waiting over 52 weeks for treatment.  

Despite a continued fall in waiting times this month, doubts remain over whether the government can realistically meet its target of 92% of patients starting treatment within 18 weeks by the end of the parliament. Reports this week suggest that the Department of Health and Social Care’s own modelling shows the NHS may only hit 80%¹.   

Commenting on the figures, Vice President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), Professor Vivien Lees, said:  

“Every delayed operation is a patient left waiting in pain, or with loss of function. While the government’s Spending Review offers a welcome day-to-day funding boost for the NHS, it falls short of what is needed to meet ambitious waiting time targets, and get back to providing timely care to patients.   

“It is disappointing capital funding for the NHS will remain flat for the next three years. The forthcoming 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy must outline how the government will improve investment in NHS infrastructure. Otherwise, surgeons will continue to work in outdated theatres and crumbling buildings that hamper their ability daily to get on with the job of treating patients. You can’t deliver 21st-century care in 20th-century facilities.” 

ENDS   

Notes to editors:  

1. The Times (10 June 2025): NHS ‘won’t hit waiting list target’ despite budget boost
   
   
2. 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/ The total waiting list stood at 7,389,271 in April 2025.   

3. 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.
   
   
4. For more information, please contact the press office: telephone: 020 7869 6053/6054/6047; email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk; out-of-hours media enquiries: 0207 869 6056.