NHS Waiting Lists Decline Despite Record Winter Pressures

The NHS recorded its busiest winter while shrinking waiting lists to their lowest level in almost three years. New official figures cover the period from November to February.

Record demand in emergency services

Attendances at A&E topped 9.1 million over the winter. The total was 9,110,591 and marked a first for the service.

Ambulance activity also reached new highs. Call outs exceeded 3.2 million, at 3,223,778 for the season.

There were nearly 130,000 more patient handovers by ambulance compared with three winters ago. Where handover time was recorded, there were 1,640,783 handovers this winter. That compares with 1,511,758 two years earlier.

Performance on waiting times

Emergency departments saw the highest four-hour performance since 2021/22. Some 73.6% of patients were admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours.

Ambulance response for the most serious calls also improved. Category 2 average waits fell to 32 minutes and 29 seconds, the quickest since 2020/21.

Waiting lists and recovery progress

Overall waiting lists fell to 7.25 million in January 2026. That was a reduction of 43,666 from the previous month.

Those waiting represent an estimated 6.13 million unique patients. Since June 2024, the backlog has dropped by 374,083.

What leaders say

Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS National Medical Director, said planners prepared services for winter pressures. She noted shorter winter waiting times and a continuing fall in waiting lists.

She emphasised action to end corridor care and praised public uptake of winter vaccinations for easing pressures.

Government response

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting welcomed the falling waits. He said more patients are being seen within 18 weeks and that services improved despite record demand.

He pledged ongoing efforts to reduce waits further, support staff, and modernise services.

Filmogaz.com will continue to monitor how NHS waiting lists and record winter pressures evolve. The figures suggest progress amid sustained demand.