Sunak in “parallel universe” as NHS waiting lists grow by 330,000 since he pledged to cut them

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has said Rishi Sunak is living in a “parallel universe,” after today’s figures reveal NHS targets are being missed while waiting lists have grown by 330,000 since the Prime Minister pledged to cut them.

NHS targets missed include:

• NHS waiting lists: NHS waiting lists stood at 7.54 million outstanding treatments in February 2024, up from 7.21 million in January 2023 when Rishi Sunak pledged to cut them. This is an increase of 330,000 (NHS England). 

• 65 week waits: There were 75,000 65-weeks for treatment in February, despite a target to eliminate them by March 2024 (NHS England). 

• A&E: 71.3% of patients were seen within 4 hours in all A&E in February, against a target of 76% (NHS England).

• Cancer: 63.9% of people treated began cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral in February 2024, against a target of 85% (NHS England).

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

“This week we uncovered that over 150,000 people waited over 24 hours in A&E last year. Now we find that waiting lists have gone up by 330,000 after Rishi Sunak pledged to cut them.

“To add insult to injury, the Conservatives have cut NHS spending while millions of patients are suffering in pain on endless waiting lists.

“Rishi Sunak is living in a parallel universe if he thinks our National Health Service is recovering. The Conservative Party and the Prime Minister are out of touch, out of ideas and deserve to be kicked out of office.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Today’s NHS waiting list figures can be found here. They show NHS waiting lists stood at 7.54 million outstanding treatments in February 2024, up from 7.21 million in January 2023 when Rishi Sunak pledged to cut them. This is an increase of 330,000.

Liberal Democrat research here found this week that over 150,000 people waited more than 24 hours to be admitted to hospital last year, reported in The Times.

Figures in the Autumn Statement show the NHS budget was cut by £3.5 billion (2.1%) in real terms in 2023-24 (GDP Deflator from OBR, Economic and Fiscal Outlook, Economy supplementary table 1.7).