Over two million extra NHS appointments including for chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endoscopy, and diagnostic tests delivered as government delivers first step to fix the NHS seven months early.
The government has announced a major early success in its mission to overhaul the NHS, with new figures revealing that almost 2.2 million additional elective care appointments were delivered between July and November last year compared to the same period the previous year.
This achievement marks the first significant step in fixing the NHS—delivering its target seven months ahead of schedule. According to NHS England’s latest data, the extra appointments include vital treatments and tests ranging from chemotherapy and radiotherapy to endoscopy and a wide array of diagnostic procedures.
The initiative has translated into roughly 100,000 more treatments, tests, and scans for patients every week. Over 500,000 additional diagnostic tests have been carried out, helping to dramatically reduce the waiting list, which has fallen by almost 160,000 patients since the government assumed office.
These efforts have ensured that thousands of patients now receive necessary operations, scans, treatments, and consultations significantly earlier, offering them a quicker return to their normal lives and work. The achievement has been bolstered by extended operating hours, including extra evening and weekend sessions, and is underpinned by a comprehensive reform agenda
A key element of this agenda is the expansion of Community Diagnostic Centres, which will soon operate 12 hours a day, seven days a week across the country, making a broader range of appointments available closer to patients’ homes.
“This milestone is a shot in the arm for our plan to get the NHS back on its feet and cut waiting times.”
- Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister
Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the milestone, stating, “Two million extra NHS appointments and a waiting list on its way down – we’re delivering on our promise to fix the NHS and make sure people get the care they need, when they need it. This isn’t just about numbers. It’s about the cancer patients who for too long were left wondering when they’ll finally start getting their life-saving treatment. It’s about the millions of people who’ve put their lives and livelihoods on hold, waiting in pain and uncertainty for a diagnosis.”
Starmer added that while this progress is encouraging, more work remains. “We’re determined to go further and faster to deliver more appointments, faster treatment, and a National Health Service that the British public deserve as part of our Plan for Change.”
In tandem with these achievements, the government has unveiled an additional £40 million funding pot aimed at trusts that demonstrate the most significant improvements in reducing waiting lists. From next year, this funding will be allocated for capital projects, including the purchase of new equipment and essential repairs to NHS estates.
The investment is expected to facilitate faster access to treatment, modernize facilities, and ultimately improve patient conditions. Potential innovations include surgical robots, AI scanners, and vital ward maintenance, all designed to expedite diagnostics and treatment.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the government’s commitment to transforming the health service, noting, “We have wasted no time in getting to work to cut NHS waiting times and end the agony of millions of patients suffering uncertainty and pain. Because we ended the strikes, invested in the NHS, and rolled out reformed ways of working, we are finally putting the NHS on the road to recovery. We promised change, and we’ve delivered, providing the two million extra appointments we pledged in just our first five months.”
He acknowledged that the progress in reducing waiting lists—around 160,000 fewer patients compared to July—is just the beginning. The ongoing Plan for Change includes opening new surgical hubs and Community Diagnostics Centres during evenings and weekends, as well as leveraging private sector capacity to shrink waiting times from 18 months to 18 weeks.
Amanda Pritchard, NHS Chief Executive, also hailed the milestone. “Thanks to the hard work of staff and embracing the latest innovations in care, we treated hundreds of thousands more patients last year and delivered a record number of tests and checks, with the waiting list falling for the fourth month in a row,” she said.
Pritchard stressed that while significant progress has been made, the Elective Care Reform Plan will build on this momentum by boosting capacity, enhancing efficiency, and ultimately improving patient experience.
The broader reform agenda includes plans to create thousands more appointments through expanded access to Community Diagnostic Centres and the establishment of 17 new or expanded surgical hubs. These hubs, to be integrated within existing hospitals by June and supported by a £1.5 billion investment confirmed at the Autumn budget, will streamline less complex procedures, freeing up acute wards for more critical cases.
Additional measures, such as eliminating non-essential follow-up appointments, striking new deals with the independent sector, and revolutionising the NHS app, are all aimed at further reducing delays and enhancing patient choice and control.
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