The NHS heads into winter with waiting lists stubbornly high
Hospitals are bracing for the annual winter surge with elective backlogs still far above pre-pandemic levels.
The NHS in England is heading into winter with waiting lists still far above pre-pandemic levels, leaving hospitals braced for the annual surge in demand.
The latest referral-to-treatment data shows millions of patients waiting for planned care. The Government has pledged to bring waiting times down, but progress has been slow and uneven across trusts.
Emergency departments face their own pressures. Ambulance handover delays and corridor care have become persistent features of winter, and health leaders warn that this year will be no different without additional capacity.
Delayed discharges remain a major driver of bed occupancy.Daily Herald
The annual flu vaccination campaign is under way, with the NHS urging eligible groups to come forward. Uptake among older people and health workers will be closely watched as an early indicator of winter resilience.
Health think tanks say the service needs sustained investment in community care and social care to relieve pressure on hospitals. Delayed discharges, where patients fit to leave cannot be sent home for lack of care packages, remain a major driver of bed occupancy.
NHS England has said winter planning is further advanced than last year, with more same-day emergency care and virtual wards. Whether that is enough will become clear in January.
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