7.2m people on NHS waiting list in England – highest figure ever

The number of people waiting to start routine NHS treatment in England has reached the highest number since records began – 7.2 million.

And nearly a third of people waiting in A&E departments were not seen within four hours – again the worst performance on record.

The health thinktank The King’s Fund warned that there are 13,300 patients stuck in hospital despite being well enough to leave – that figure is 30% higher than this time last year.