'Ominous signs' of winter pressures as NHS waiting list grows

There are "ominous signs" that winter pressures are already affecting the NHS in England, according to senior health leaders.

The warning comes as new data reveals the waiting list for routine hospital treatment in England rose for the second month in a row.

An estimated 7.37 million treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of August, relating to 6.24 million patients.

The numbers are the highest since October 2025 and have raised questions over whether the NHS will meet a government target of treating 92% of patients within 18 weeks by 2029.

The rise in waiting lists comes despite the NHS in England delivering what were described as record levels of planned, elective care over the summer, while demand for services also reached its highest level ever.

A record 4.7 million planned treatments, procedures and appointments occurred across June, July and August – more than in any previous summer.

But both A&Es and ambulance services also saw a record number of patients for the month of September.

NHS England's national medical director, Professor Frankie Swords, warned that despite the progress delivered by frontline teams, winter pressure was already building.