The King's Fund - Waiting on the waiting list, but what for? (28 November 2022)

Summary

The waiting list in England stood at more than seven million in September 2022, up by 1.2 million since September 2021 and 2.6 million since 2019. This analysis by the King's Fund outlines what different patients on the waiting list are waiting for, breaking this figure down into:

• different medical and surgical specialties
• whether patients are waiting for admission, diagnostics or decisions

It highlights that many on the waiting list are awaiting further diagnostics or decisions before treatment can commence, and others are waiting for treatment that does not require admission to hospital.