Home / Health / England's Hospital Waits Drop Despite Doctor Strikes
England's Hospital Waits Drop Despite Doctor Strikes
16 Apr
Summary
- Waiting list for hospital treatment in England fell for fourth month.
- Estimated 7.22 million treatments waiting at end of February.
- Longest waits (over a year) lowest since August 2020.
In England, the waiting list for hospital treatments has seen a decline for the fourth consecutive month as of February 2026. Figures indicate approximately 7.22 million treatments were awaiting execution, affecting 6.11 million patients. This represents a decrease from the previous month and is the lowest count since February 2023.
Despite the positive trend, Health Secretary Wes Streeting noted that resident doctor strikes have hindered faster progress towards the 18-week waiting time target. He suggested the target might have been met earlier without industrial action. The number of patients waiting over a year for treatment also fell to 122,668 in February, the lowest since August 2020.
Further encouraging statistics show improvements in cancer treatment diagnostics, with 80.5% of urgently referred patients diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days. Ambulance response times for critical incidents also met their target in February. Experts emphasize that sustained progress requires continued system-wide action and investment.
