NHS waiting list hits record 7.3 million people in England

Rishi Sunak made cutting waiting lists one of his priorities for 2023 – but the numbers are still growing

(Jeff Moore/PA) (PA Wire)

The number of people in England waiting to start hospital treatment rose to a new high in March with the backlog at a record 7.3 million patients, new NHS data shows.

This is up from 7.2 million in February and is the highest number since records began in August 2007.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made cutting waiting lists one of his priorities for 2023, pledging in January that “lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly”.