Labour ‘on course to miss’ key NHS pledge on waiting times

Labour is unlikely to meet its key election pledge on tackling NHS waiting lists, analysis has suggested.

Sir Keir Starmer was elected after promising that 92% of routine operations and appointments would be carried out within 18 weeks by 2029.

However, a major report by the Health Foundation think tank said that, at the current rate of progress, Labour would “fall short of delivering on its headline pledge”.

The overall hospital waiting list stands at 7.4 million, down from 7.6 million when Labour took office. But it has risen for the past two months, and currently only 61 per cent of patients are seen within the 18-week target.

The report said that based on current trends, the overall waiting list will be 4.7 million at the time of the next general election in four years’ time. This would be the lowest figure since 2021, but not low enough to meet the election pledge.

It also warned that further disruption, such as another wave of junior doctors strikes, could make it even harder to lower waiting lists.

Dr Francesca Cavallaro, a senior analytical manager at the Health Foundation, said: “The scale of the challenge remains significant, and even getting close to meeting the target would be a considerable achievement. This will require not just more activity, but smarter use of resources and continued investment in the NHS workforce and infrastructure. And there are several factors that could hold back progress, including if future referrals rise faster than expected and the potential impact of further industrial action."

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Source: The Times, 25 September 2025