NHS Waiting List Significantly Underestimated, ONS Reveals
New data indicates millions more patients are waiting for care than previously reported, with long delays becoming increasingly common.
- ONS data suggests NHS waiting list could be around 9.7 million, significantly higher than the previously reported 6.3 million.
- One in seven patients on the NHS waiting list have been waiting for longer than a year for an appointment or treatment.
- Access to GP services remains a challenge, with nearly one in 10 unable to make contact on their last attempt.
- Patients in the most deprived areas are more likely to have been waiting for more than a year for hospital care.
- Despite challenges, nearly two-thirds of patients report a positive experience with general practice.
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