Why aren't NHS waiting lists decreasing despite increased productivity?

Waiting lists are not decreasing because patients are having more appointments and operations per treatment, rather than simply more patients joining the list.

What is the role of robotic surgery in reducing NHS waiting lists?

Robotic surgery is expected to significantly increase the number of procedures performed annually, aiming to slash waiting times and improve patient outcomes.

What standards are needed for robotic surgery in the NHS?

The Royal College of Surgeons is urging for rigorous training and governance standards, including simulator training and competency checks, to match innovation.

Home / Health / NHS Productivity Rises, But Waiting Lists Don't Shrink

NHS Productivity Rises, But Waiting Lists Don't Shrink

9 Dec

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Summary

Outpatient appointments rose 9.4%, but completed treatments only 4%.
Increased appointments per patient, not new patients, inflate lists.
Robotic surgery innovation needs matching rigorous training standards.

NHS Productivity Rises, But Waiting Lists Don't Shrink

NHS hospitals are experiencing a rise in productivity, with outpatient appointments increasing by 9.4% in 2024/25. However, this surge has not translated into meaningful reductions in waiting lists, as the number of patients completing treatment only grew by 4% in the same period. Analysis suggests this discrepancy is due to patients receiving more appointments and operations before discharge, rather than an increase in new patients or illness severity.

This trend has significant implications for the government's ambition to cut NHS waiting times. The Institute for Fiscal Studies highlights that without this increase in individual patient activity, waiting lists could have been approximately one million cases lower. The analysis also points to an NHS England incentive scheme that may have prioritized activity levels over completed treatments.