NHS waiting lists in England have climbed to a record high amid continuing industrial action in the health service.
According to official data released on Thursday, 7.47 million people were waiting to start routine hospital treatment at the end of May, up from 7.42 million at the end of April.
It is the highest number since records began in August 2007.
In May, some 385,022 people had been waiting more than 52 weeks to start routine hospital treatment, up from 371,111 at the end of April.
During the same period, 11,446 people were estimated to have been waiting 18 months to start treatment, down slightly from 11,477.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to cut NHS waiting lists earlier this year, when it stood at 7.2 million.
But earlier this month, he warned that industrial action across the NHS is making the task “more challenging.”
It is estimated that eight months of strikes has led to the cancellation or postponement of about 651,000 appointments and routine procedures.
Junior doctors started a five-day walkout from 7 a.m. on Thursday in what is the longest spell of industrial action in NHS history.
They return to work at 7 a.m. on July 18 and 48 hours later consultants are set to strike for two days. Radiographers across 43 NHS trusts will also walk out for two days from July 25.
Mr. Sunak said on Thursday that he had accepted the recommendations from independent pay review bodies, including 6 percent increases for junior doctors in England along with an additional consolidated £1,250 increase.
‘Incredibly Challenging’
Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said the latest wave of strikes represents “an incredibly challenging period” for the NHS.He added, “So while staff will continue to work hard to provide patients with the care they need, there is no doubt this period of action is likely to have the biggest impact yet.”
Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive at NHS Providers, said: “Chronic workforce shortages and a lack of physical capacity cross the NHS and social care are hindering trusts’ ability to improve waiting times and cut the backlog.
“On top of that, ongoing industrial action is adding to the weight of demand on hospital, ambulance, mental health, and community services.”
Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting blamed the prime minister’s “refusal to negotiate” with striking workers for climbing waiting lists.
He said: “Patients are waiting months and months for operations, only for them to be cancelled due to strikes.
No More Pay Talks
Downing Street has urged junior doctors and consultants would consider the pay rises offered on Thursday as it confirmed there will not be further talks on wage increases.The prime minister’s official spokesman told reporters on Friday: “We would hope that junior doctors and consultants—on around £120,000 a year—will look at the offer again today and speak to their unions and consider whether it is appropriate for it to keep disrupting patient care in the way they are doing, in light of junior doctors on average [being offered an] 8.8 percent pay increase and consultants a 6 percent pay increase.
“And consultants, of course, are some of the best-paid public sector workers—and indeed public or private sector workers.
“So it is for them to consider whether it is appropriate. Our position is clear: We have accepted the independently-decided recommendation of the pay review body.
“We are more than happy to talk about wider workforce issues but we won’t be having further talks on pay.”
