In November the NHS waiting list fell by more than 86,000 to 7.31 million — the second largest monthly reduction in 15 years outside the early pandemic period. The milestone comes about a year after the Elective Reform Plan was published and represents a notable improvement even as demand across urgent and emergency services reached record levels in 2025.
Over the year there were 27.8 million A&E attendances, up by over 367,000 on 2024, including 2.33 million visits in December alone. Hospitals are also coping with heavy winter illness pressures: last week an average of 2,725 patients were in hospital with flu each day, and inpatients with norovirus rose sharply, with the weekly average up 57% to 567.
Ambulance services recorded their busiest December on record with 846,263 incidents, bringing the total for 2025 to 9.31 million — roughly 365,174 more incidents than in 2024 (8.95 million). Despite these strains, A&E performance improved: 73.8% of patients were seen within the four-hour target in December, around 50,000 more people seen within the target than a year earlier. Bed occupancy remains very high at 94.1%.
Work under the Elective Reform Plan over the past year has included more evening and weekend clinics, new and expanded community diagnostic centres and surgical hubs, deployment of specialist teams to 20 trusts with the highest levels of economic inactivity, and steps to cut unnecessary appointments by sending patients straight to tests. In November NHS staff completed 2.45 million tests and checks. The number of people waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment fell to 2.79 million in November 2025, from 3.1 million in 2024. Progress in cancer care continued, with 76.5% of patients receiving either a diagnosis or the all-clear within four weeks of an urgent referral.
Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS National Medical Director, praised staff for reducing the waiting list amid record patient numbers and said the Elective Reform Plan has helped many people get faster diagnoses and treatment. She cautioned that winter pressures remain significant, pointing to the post-festive rise in flu and persistently high bed occupancy, and urged the public to reserve 999 and A&E for life‑threatening emergencies while using NHS 111, local GPs and pharmacies for other conditions.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said government investment and modernisation are delivering faster care, noting waiting lists are down by more than 312,000 and more patients are being treated within 18 weeks. He highlighted measures such as extended appointment hours, tests closer to home, surgical hubs and better use of technology, while acknowledging that winter pressures continue and further work is needed.
