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LONDON. – The number of people waiting to receive treatment in England’s state-run health service has hit at an all-time high of 7,1 million people, official figures showed yesterday.
Struggling to clear backlogs from the pandemic, the National Health Service (NHS) is recording long waits for tests – including for cancer – and routine and emergency care.
The waiting list for hospital treatment rose by 100 000 to 7,1 million at the end of September – the highest figure since records began in August 2007.
Around one in 18 of those on the list have been waiting more than a year for hospital treatment, although the number of people waiting 18 months for treatment has dropped by almost 60 percent in a year, said NHS England.
But accident and emergency departments are reporting new highs in the number of people having to wait more than 12 hours for a bed after being determined they need one.
The situation shows no sign of immediate improvement, with a nursing strike set to increase the usual winter pressure from a rise in seasonal viruses such as flu.
The Royal College of Nursing on Wednesday announced the first UK-wide strike action in the union’s 106-year history due to a cost-of-living crisis that it says has left its members struggling to feed their families and pay their bills. – AFP
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