The NHS is on the “road to recovery”, ministers have claimed, after the Government met its pledge to deliver two million extra appointments ahead of schedule.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the achievement as a key milestone in Labour’s plan to reduce waiting times and improve patient care. However, he acknowledged that there is still much work to be done to ensure faster treatment and long-term reform of the NHS.
NHS delivers 2.2 million extra appointments
According to NHS England figures, between July and November 2024, there were almost 2.2 million more NHS appointments compared with the same period in 2023.
The breakdown of additional activity includes:
- 62% outpatient appointments
- 26% diagnostic tests
- 12% elective operations
These extra appointments were largely delivered through extended evening and weekend working, with NHS staff and hospitals operating at increased capacity. The figures mean that Labour’s manifesto commitment to provide two million extra appointments per year has been met seven months early.
Starmer: ‘This isn’t just about numbers’
Celebrating the milestone, Sir Keir Starmer emphasised the real-life impact of these improvements, particularly for patients who have been left waiting for urgent treatment.
“This isn’t just about numbers. It’s about the cancer patients who for too long were left wondering when they’ll finally start getting their life-saving treatment.
“It’s about the millions of people who’ve put their lives and livelihoods on hold – waiting in pain and uncertainty as they wait for a diagnosis.
“We said we’d turn this around and that’s exactly what we’re doing – this milestone is a shot in the arm for our plan to get the NHS back on its feet and cut waiting times.
“But we’re not complacent and we know the job isn’t done. We’re determined to go further and faster to deliver more appointments, faster treatment and a National Health Service that the British public deserve as part of our plan for change.”
Waiting lists continue to fall
The latest figures suggest that the NHS is making progress in tackling the backlog. Waiting lists in England have now fallen for the fourth consecutive month, reaching their lowest level since April 2023.
At the end of December, an estimated 7.46 million treatments were waiting to be carried out, covering 6.24 million patients. This represents a drop from 7.48 million treatments and 6.28 million patients in November.
To further accelerate progress, the Government has announced an extra £40 million funding pot for NHS trusts that make the biggest improvements in cutting waiting lists. From next year, hospitals that successfully reduce their backlog will receive additional funding for capital projects and improvements.
Health secretary: ‘We have wasted no time’
Health Secretary Wes Streeting praised the efforts of NHS staff in delivering the additional appointments and reducing waiting times.
“We have wasted no time in getting to work to cut NHS waiting times and end the agony of millions of patients suffering uncertainty and pain.
“Because we ended the strikes, invested in the NHS, and rolled out reformed ways of working, we are finally putting the NHS on the road to recovery.”
According to NHS England, there are now around 160,000 fewer patients on waiting lists than when Labour took office in July last year.
NHS chief: More work to be done
NHS England’s Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard welcomed the progress but stressed that the work is far from over.
“Thanks to the hard work of staff and embracing the latest innovations in care, we treated hundreds of thousands more patients last year and delivered a record number of tests and checks, with the waiting list falling for the fourth month in a row.
“But there is much more to do to slash waiting times for patients.”
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Criticism over social care issues
Despite the positive developments, the Government has faced criticism for failing to address issues in social care, which many argue are essential to relieving pressure on the NHS.
Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman Helen Morgan warned that hospitals will remain overwhelmed and backlogged unless the Government takes urgent action on social care.
“The drive for more appointments is of course welcome but the silence on social care cannot be allowed to continue.
“Too many people have been tragically let down and left waiting in limbo.
“Until the Government gets a grip of social care, hospitals will remain overwhelmed, backlogged, and it is the patients who will pay the price.”
Looking ahead
While the Government’s achievement in meeting its appointments pledge is a step in the right direction, challenges remain. Sustaining long-term reductions in waiting times, addressing workforce shortages, and reforming social care will be critical in ensuring that the NHS can continue to recover and meet public demand.
For now, ministers remain optimistic that continued investment and reforms will deliver a faster, more efficient health service for the British public.
