Thursday, October 9, 2025
  • Who’sWho Africa AWARDS
  • About TimeAfrica Magazine
  • Contact Us
Time Africa Magazine
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • World News
    • US
    • UAE
    • Europe
    • UK
    • Israel-Hamas
    • Russia-Ukraine
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Column
  • Interviews
  • Special Report
No Result
View All Result
Time Africa Magazine
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • World News
    • US
    • UAE
    • Europe
    • UK
    • Israel-Hamas
    • Russia-Ukraine
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Column
  • Interviews
  • Special Report
No Result
View All Result
Time Africa Magazine
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • Magazine
  • World News

Home » World News » Sunak Faces Fresh Blow As NHS Waiting List Creeps Back Up For First Time In Seven Months 

Sunak Faces Fresh Blow As NHS Waiting List Creeps Back Up For First Time In Seven Months 

June 13, 2024
in World News
0
540
SHARES
4.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

ReadAlso

Get your children the chickenpox jab to stop the anti-vaxxers, minister tells parents

Experts reveal the truth about cholesterol – and how it impacts your health

The waiting list for routine hospital treatment in England has risen for the first time in seven months, new figures show, in what will be a fresh blow to Rishi Sunak’s election campaign.

An estimated 7.57 million treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of April, relating to 6.33 million patients – up slightly from 7.54 million treatments and 6.29 million patients at the end of March, NHS England said.


The list hit a record high in September 2023 with 7.77 million treatments and 6.50 million patients.
It comes after the prime minister insisted the NHS waiting list was coming down during a grilling on Sky News’s election debate on Wednesday.
“We’ve not made as much progress on cutting waiting lists as I would have liked,” Mr Sunak said during the debate.
“That was something that I was keen to do, and it has proved more difficult for a number of reasons, obviously recovering from a pandemic is not easy,” he said.
He faced groans and boos when he said: “I think everyone knows the impact the industrial action has had, that’s why we haven’t made as much (progress).”
When challenged by host Beth Rigby that the wait list had risen from 7.21 million in the time since he had vowed to tackle the problem in January 2023, Mr Sunak said: “Yes, yes it has, I’m being very clear about that. And now it’s coming down because we are now, the plan is working.”
Figures published by NHS England on Thursday show some 5,013 patients in England had been waiting more than 18 months to start routine treatment at the end of April, up from 4,770 in March.
The Government and NHS England set the ambition of eliminating all waits of more than 18 months by April 2023, excluding exceptionally complex cases or patients who choose to wait longer.
There were 50,397 patients who had been waiting more than 65 weeks to start treatment at the end of April, up from 48,968 in March.
The target to eliminate all waits of over 65 weeks is now September 2024, having previously been March 2024.
Meanwhile, a total of 302,589 people in England had been waiting more than 52 weeks to start routine hospital treatment at the end of April, down from 309,300 at the end of March.
The Government and NHS England have set the ambition of eliminating all waits of more than a year by March 2025.
Commenting on the waiting list increase, Tim Gardner, assistant director of policy at think tank the Health Foundation, said: “With both Labour and the Conservatives promising big improvements in NHS waiting times, today’s figures are a stark reminder of the scale of the challenge facing the next government.
‘’To make good on manifesto pledges, whoever forms the next government needs to prioritise stable, long-term investment in the NHS to keep pace with demand and improve services for the future. This includes addressing staff shortages, modernising crumbling buildings, replacing outdated equipment and reforming the social care system. Without this, commitments to substantially cut waiting times are just empty promises.”
Sir Keir Starmer speaking to the audience during a Sky News election event
Sir Keir Starmer speaking to the audience during a Sky News election event (PA Wire)
The rising waiting list comes as new figures show a record 2.4 million people attended A&E in May, while the number of patients admitted stood at 564,693 – the second-highest month on record after May 2024 when 567,456 admissions were recorded.
The number of people waiting more than 12 hours to be seen, treated or discharged after arriving in A&E last month hit, 145,094 – up from 138,658.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director, said: “As these figures show, demand for NHS services across the country remains high. May was a record month for urgent and emergency services, with the highest number of A&E attendances as well as being the busiest May for the most urgent ambulance call-outs, while staff delivered a record number of elective appointments for April.
“This is alongside viruses that are still causing concern, including whooping cough. Cases have been rising sharply in recent months, and there have sadly been eight infant deaths this year. We continue to urge all pregnant women to get vaccinated to help protect their babies in the first few weeks of their life, and ensure that their children get protected in the first few months after birth as part of the routine NHS vaccine offer.”
He said with junior doctors set to strike for five days from the end of June, the NHS is having to prepare for further disruption in the coming weeks.
The number of patients waiting at least four hours from the decision to admit to admission also increased, from 134,344 in April to 138,770 in May.
Some 74.0 per cent of patients in England were seen within four hours in A&Es last month, down from 74.4 per cent in April.
The NHS recovery plan set a target of March this year for 76 per cent of patients attending A&E to be admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours.

ADVERTISEMENT
Tags: NHSUlHC
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

N80.2b Money Laundering: Court Shifts Yahaya Bello’s Arraignment to June 27

Next Post

Son’s conviction, body blow, political jeopardy for US President Biden that will supercharge Trump’s rhetoric

You MayAlso Like

UK

Woman appointed Archbishop of Canterbury 

October 3, 2025
King Charles and Prince Harry did not meet during the Duke's recent visit to the UK. (Image: Getty)
UK

Prince Harry issues strongly-worded statement over King Charles meeting

September 28, 2025
President Donald Trump attends a meeting with leaders of Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. | Evan Vucci/AP
Middle-East

Trump ‘promised Arab leaders he would not let Israel annex the West Bank’

September 25, 2025
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy leaves the courtroom on Thursday after the verdict in his trial for illegal campaign financing from Libya.Alain Jocard / AFP - Getty Images
World News

French ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy sentenced to five years in prison in Libyan campaign-financing trial

September 25, 2025
4.Young leaders trained by We Can program designed and delivered 17 projects across schools and communities
World News

Award-winning Chill Lab youth mental health program impacted 146,000+ lives in two years with latest “We Can” student-led projects benefiting 17,000+ people

September 22, 2025
Two teenagers were sentenced to 12 years of hard labour in the gulag for watching banned South Korean TVCredit: BBC
World News

North Korea executing more people for watching foreign movies

September 14, 2025
Next Post

Son's conviction, body blow, political jeopardy for US President Biden that will supercharge Trump's rhetoric

Thousands Told To Flee Papua New Guinea for Fear Of Second Landslide

Discussion about this post

Kingdom in Crisis: Ogwashi-Uku Rejects Obi’s Land Grab, Villages Ready to Declare Autonomy

Faked or Factual: UNN Contradictory Claims on Minister Uche Nnaji Certificate Raise Questions of Credibility

Woman appointed Archbishop of Canterbury 

A Minister of Lies?: Uche Nnaji’s Certificate Scandal and the Collapse of Credibility in Nigerian Governance

Certificate Scandal: University of Nigeria Declares Minister Uche Nnaji Never Graduated

Nigeria’s Anglican Church Rescinds Ties with Canterbury Amid Controversy Over ‘Pro-Gay’ Female Archbishop

  • British government apologizes to Peter Obi, as hired impostors, master manipulators on rampage abroad

    1242 shares
    Share 497 Tweet 311
  • Maids trafficked and sold to wealthy Saudis on black market

    1067 shares
    Share 427 Tweet 267
  • Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

    974 shares
    Share 390 Tweet 244
  • ‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

    905 shares
    Share 362 Tweet 226
  • Crisis echoes, fears grow in Amechi Awkunanaw in Enugu State

    735 shares
    Share 294 Tweet 184
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

British government apologizes to Peter Obi, as hired impostors, master manipulators on rampage abroad

April 13, 2023

Maids trafficked and sold to wealthy Saudis on black market

December 27, 2022
Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

September 22, 2023
‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

March 21, 2023
Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu, wife of Willie Obiano, former governor of Anambra state

NIGERIA: No, wife of Biafran warlord, Bianca Ojukwu lied – Ebele Obiano:

0

SOUTH AFRICA: TO LEAVE OR NOT TO LEAVE?

0
kelechi iheanacho

TOP SCORER: IHEANACHA

0
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

WHAT CAN’TBE TAKEN AWAY FROM JONATHAN

0

National Council of State Unanimously Approves Appointment of Professor Amupitan as INEC Chairman

October 9, 2025

Central African Republic become 46th member of AFC

October 8, 2025

Next Steps for African Energy: APPO Must Choose a Visionary Leader to Secure Its Future

October 8, 2025
Prince Harry watching an anti-poaching exercise in Malawi in 2019 during a royal tour of Africa to visit his charities (Getty)

Chad Cuts Ties with Charity Linked to Prince Harry

October 8, 2025

ABOUT US

Time Africa Magazine

TIMEAFRICA MAGAZINE is an African Magazine with a culture of excellence; a magazine without peer. Nearly a third of its readers hold advanced degrees and include novelists, … READ MORE >>

SECTIONS

  • Aviation
  • Column
  • Crime
  • Europe
  • Featured
  • Gallery
  • Health
  • Interviews
  • Israel-Hamas
  • Lifestyle
  • Magazine
  • Middle-East
  • News
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • Russia-Ukraine
  • Science
  • Special Report
  • Sports
  • TV/Radio
  • UAE
  • UK
  • US
  • World News

Useful Links

  • AllAfrica
  • Channel Africa
  • El Khabar
  • The Guardian
  • Cairo Live
  • Le Republicain
  • Magazine: 9771144975608
  • Subscribe to TIMEAFRICA MAGAZINE biweekly news magazine

    Enjoy handpicked stories from around African continent,
    delivered anywhere in the world

    Subscribe

    • About TimeAfrica Magazine
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • WHO’SWHO AWARDS

    © 2025 TimeAfrica Magazine - All Right Reserved. TimeAfrica Magazine Ltd is published by Times Associates, registered Nigeria. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
    • Politics
    • Column
    • Interviews
    • Gallery
    • Lifestyle
    • Special Report
    • Sports
    • TV/Radio
    • Aviation
    • Health
    • Science
    • World News

    © 2025 TimeAfrica Magazine - All Right Reserved. TimeAfrica Magazine Ltd is published by Times Associates, registered Nigeria. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.