Year-long waits for NHS treatment skyrocket by 15% - despite PM's vow to reduce delays

The Liberal Democrats said the figures revealed the 'postcode lottery' for NHS treatment, with one-year waits more common in some regions of England compared to other regions

Waiting lists for NHS treatment have reached record levels (

Image: PA)

The number of patients waiting a year for NHS treatment has soared by 15% in the past year, analysis shows, despite Rishi Sunak's pledge to reduce delays.

The Prime Minister has made cutting NHS waiting lists one of his top five priorities ahead of the next election. But the Lib Dems said NHS figures show one-year expectations have risen in the 12 months to May.

Data from NHS England shows that 333,119 patients were waiting 52 weeks for treatment in May 2022. In May 2023, this number rose to 385,022.

Daisy Cooper, Lib Dem's health spokeswoman, said: "Rishi Sunak promised NHS waiting lists would fall, instead they keep growing with thousands of people waiting in pain for the treatment they need."

The Lib Dems said the numbers revealed an "austere postcode lottery", with waits of a year longer far more common in some areas than others.

Rishi Sunak has pledged to reduce NHS waiting lists as part of his five pledges to the nation (

Picture:

Getty Images)

Trafford Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Manchester ICB in the North West have been the worst affected areas, with almost 13% of patients on an NHS waiting list for at least 12 months.

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In Brighton and Hove, as well as Stockport, one in 10 patients had been waiting for care for at least a year in May. Sunderland in the North East had the lowest waits for discharge from ICBs in England, with less than 1% of patients being delayed by a year.

Ms Cooper added: "These figures reveal a stark postcode lottery, with some areas seeing more than one in eight patients stuck on an NHS waiting list for a year or more.

"The government's failure to address soaring NHS wait times is causing untold suffering and hurting our economy by leaving people too sick to return to work. The NHS is on its knees after years of...