PATIENTS across the North West are seeing significant improvements in NHS waiting times as hospital backlogs continue to fall.

Waiting lists have gone down by over 37,400 across North West’s hospitals, marking a major step forward in the government's Plan for Change commitment to rebuild the NHS.

It comes as new data published today shows the national waiting list has fallen to its lowest level in two years - to 7.39 million, down from 7.42 million – the 1st April drop since 2008. And it follows further investment announced by the Chancellor on Wednesday, allocating a record £29 billion funding boost to the NHS – which will include delivering up to 4 million extra diagnostic tests, scans and procedures over the next 5 years. 

Staff across the country have delivered record numbers of tests and checks and as they faced the 2nd busiest month ever in A&E, with more planned treatments being delivered to help turn the tide for patients as the NHS drives reform across elective and emergency care. 

An NHS productivity drive is also seeing hospitals across England work differently, with more evening and weekend appointments, and GPs and community services delivering more appointments.  

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:- “We are putting the NHS on the road to recovery after years of soaring waiting times, by providing record investment and fundamental NHS reform. Thanks to our interventions and the hard work of NHS staff, the overall waiting list has now fallen in April for the 1st time in 17 years – dropping by over 37,400 in the North West since we took office. This is just the start. Having now delivered millions of extra appointments since July, we are pushing on with our mission to get the NHS working for patients once again as we deliver our Plan for Change.”

National data published this morning also showed it was the busiest April ever for the number of tests and checks carried out for patients, with community diagnostic hubs helping services to deliver 2.4 million checks (2,399,611) – almost half a million more diagnostic tests compared to the same month in 2019, up a quarter (1,917,308). 

Nationally, the 28-day cancer target continued to be met in April, meaning more than 200,000 people were diagnosed or given the all-clear for cancer within 28 days (209,566) – 11,500 more than the previous year (197,882). 

Separate monthly data out today also shows that emergency services continued to face record pressure last month, as the 2nd busiest month ever recorded in A&E in May – a total of 2,395,886 attendances, 77,287 per day – a 10% increase on pre-pandemic levels (2,172,006 in May 2019). 

Despite high levels of demand, waits of 4 and 12 hours in A&E and all categories of ambulance response times were improved on the year before, as hardworking staff continue to bring down waits for urgent and emergency care. 

There was an average of 58,270 patients per day admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours in A&E last month – a total of 1.8 million (1,806,359) – the highest number in 6 years (since 1,797,984 in April 2019) and 3/4 of all patients (75.4%), up from both the previous month (74.8%) and the previous year (74%). 

The new Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, launched last week, sets out how the NHS will work with the government to “resuscitate” emergency care, moving patient care into more appropriate care settings as part of the shift from hospital to community, while tackling ambulance handover delays and corridor care.