Surgeons: NHS will struggle to meet target to eliminate 65 week waits by September

• 45,527 waiting over 65 weeks in August 2024 
• Call for Autumn Budget to include capital funding for NHS infrastructure and IT 
  
Surgeons have warned the target to eliminate waits over 65 weeks for planned NHS treatment looks likely to be missed again. The target, first set in the elective recovery plan in February 2022, was missed in March 2024, with a revised target of September 2024 set in NHS planning guidance for 20204/2025.  
  
With 45,527 waiting over 65 weeks in August 2024, the Royal College of Surgeons of England has said it will be difficult for the September target to be met, emphasizing the need for the Autumn Budget to include investment in NHS infrastructure and IT, to get NHS waiting lists back on track.  
  
NHS performance data published today (10 October) show the number of referral to treatment (RTT) pathways where a patient was waiting to start planned consultant-led treatment rose to 7.6 million in August 2024. The total waiting list has fallen by 102,570 since the same time last year.  
  
Some patients are on multiple pathways. NHS England estimates the number of unique patients is around 6.3 million. Patients will be waiting for treatment ranging from gallbladder removals to hip replacements and surgery to remove cancerous tumours.  
  
Responding to the latest figures, Professor Frank Smith, Vice President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: 
  
“With waits of over 65 weeks still standing at 45,527 in August, the promise to eliminate these waits by September looks very hard to achieve. Too many patients continue to have to live in pain and anxiety, potentially unable to get back to work and help grow our economy. 
  
“If the new government wants to show it is serious about meeting its pledge to cut waiting times, it must provide capital funding for NHS buildings and IT in the Autumn Budget later this month. With reports of broken lifts and flooded corridors in hospitals leading to cancelled operations, and surgeons telling us access to operating theatres remains an issue, cutting waits will remain an uphill battle without this investment.”  
  
ENDS   
  
Notes to editors:  

1. 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-2023-24/    
2. NHS England’s ‘Priorities and operational planning guidance 2024/25’ set a target to eliminate waits of over 65 weeks for elective care as soon as possible and by September 2024 at the latest (except where patients choose to wait longer or in specific specialties). See planning guidance and target (page 8) here:  2024/25 priorities and operational planning guidance (england.nhs.uk) 
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.