Hospital Waiting Lists in England Rise 1.4% to 7.57 Million, Challenging Sunak's Pledge

Jun 13, 2024, 09:08 AM

New data indicates that hospital waiting lists in England have increased for the first time in seven months, rising by 1.4% between March and April 2024. The total number of people on the waiting list for planned NHS treatment now stands at 7.57 million, up from 7.54 million in March, an increase of around 34,000. This increase, though slight, represents the largest rise in over a year and poses a challenge to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who had pledged to reduce these waiting times. The rise comes at a critical time for the Tory election campaign, adding to the pressure on Sunak as the economy also shows signs of stagnation.