NHS elective waiting list
Number of incomplete elective (referral-to-treatment) pathways waiting to start in England. One person can be on more than one pathway, so this exceeds the count of distinct patients waiting (around 6.1 million).
7.01m pathways
-1.5% vs 2026-02
As of 2026-03
Historical trend
By nation
England 7.60m pathways
Scotland 580.0k pathways
Wales 620.0k pathways
Northern Ireland 385.0k pathways
Source: NHS England
Trend summary
NHS elective waiting list was 7.01m in 2026-03, down from 7.12m in 2026-02.
Trend
- Over the available record (2007-08–2026-03), it has ranged from 2.32m in 2010-01 to 7.75m in 2023-08.
- The latest reading is above the record average of 4.34m.
Context
- NHS England publishes RTT statistics monthly; figures cover incomplete pathways (patients awaiting treatment).
- The 18-week RTT standard (92% of patients treated within 18 weeks) has not been met nationally since 2016.
Generated from the published series — describes direction, magnitude and range only, with no editorial judgement or forecasts.
About this indicator
- Source
- NHS England
- Update frequency
- Monthly
- Last updated
- 10 August 2026
- Next update
- 10 September 2026
- Licence
- OGL v3
- Direction
- ↓ Falling
Statistics
- Latest
- 7.01m pathways
- Period high
- 7.42m pathways
- Period low
- 7.01m pathways
- Period average
- 7.26m pathways