Community waiting list surges back above 1 million

The community services waiting list has risen sharply to more than 1 million, with children suffering the longest waits, new data has revealed.

NHS England figures published today show the adult community waiting list increased from 704,000 to 781,000 between October 2022 – the first published data available – and August. The children and young people’s list rose from 207,000 to 221,000. 

This means the overall community waiting list for England has exceeded 1 million for the first time since figures were first published in October last year.

Waits for musculoskeletal services dropped to a low of 255,000 in January. But this progress has since reversed – and, in July, the number of people waiting for care climbed to a high point of 319,000.

The waiting for podiatry and podiatric services, meanwhile, has climbed by 7% since October from 117,000 to 126,000, adding an extra 8,000 people to the waiting list. These services also account for 46 per cent – or 5,635 – of the waiting list over 52 weeks. 

Waiting lists for smaller adult specialties have also significantly worsened.

For example, nursing and therapy support for long-term conditions saw large increases in three areas: continence and colostomy, rising by 16%; respiratory and COPD, rising by 27%; and diabetes, rising by 37%.

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Source: HSJ, 12 October 2023