England’s hospital waiting list reaches 6.5 million

Latest NHS figures show that nearly 6.5 million people in England are waiting for hospital treatment, meaning that one in nine people in the country are waiting for care such as hip and knee replacements, and eye surgery.

 

One in twenty of these people have been waiting for longer than a year.

 

However, NHS England have said there are signs of progress, with fewer people waiting for tests and the number waiting for longer than two years falling.

 

Tim Mitchell, vice president of the Royal College of Surgeons, agreed, saying there was “light at the end of the tunnel”.

 

He added “Surgical teams have been working around the clock to reduce the enormous waiting list which built up during the pandemic.

 

“However, there are still big challenges ahead.  As people return to the NHS, demand is only getting stronger.”

 

Mr Mitchell went on to say that there was a need for more staff to increase the amount of surgery that could be done – ministers have warned the waiting list could keep increasing until 2024.

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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