NHS England has published new data, as part of plans to reform elective care and tackle health inequalities, noting at 29 June 2025, 7,321,879 patients were on the waiting list, with trauma and orthopaedics, ear nose and throat, gynaecology, and ophthalmology, having the highest wait lists.
The Waiting List Minimum Dataset (WLMDS) will now be published as part of monthly performance statistics. Broken down by age, sex, ethnicity, and deprivation levels. NHSE is asking providers to use the data, published on NHSE’s website, to improve understanding of inequalities in waiting lists, and to take steps to address them. Trusts will also be supported to develop targeted measures to improve health whilst waiting, it shares.
For the week ending 29 June the data shows that Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust currently has the highest number of patients on its waiting list, with a total list size of 192,461, 52.2 percent of which are within 18 weeks. Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust waiting list size is 173,839, 50.2 percent within 18 weeks; Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust has 149,581, with 56 percent within 18 weeks; and Barts Health has a total waiting list of 137, 276, with 56.1 percent within 18 weeks.
NHS England highlights that the data shows “unfair elective waits for working class and minority patients” adding that it “shows those from deprived communities are more likely to wait longer”.
On examples of work to tackle health inequalities on waiting lists, citing the use of an AI tool to predict the likelihood of children attending outpatient appointments at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, which identified those from deprived communities where English was not the first language as having the highest risk of missing appointments. “Conversations with children and their families identified transport was one of the main causes, so the trust introduced pre-paid parking and funded travel via public transport,” it shares, resulting in appointment attendances increasing over a three-week period, saving a reported £7,800 in “non-wasted” clinical time.
Stella Vig, the NHS national clinical director for elective care, commented: “Understanding patient demographics is vital if we are to identify and tackle the way different groups are treated which is why I am delighted we are publishing this data for the first time today, providing greater transparency of NHS services. As well as allowing patients and the public to see the makeup of local lists, NHS teams will be able to analyse the latest data, understand where there is unwarranted variation in waiting times, and work with their communities to take action to reduce it.”
Digital and data in helping tackle health inequalities and waiting lists
For HTN Now, we welcomed a group of experts for a discussion on how digital tools are transforming community care delivery and expanding workforce capacity. Panellists included Peter Cumpstone, head of digital clinical systems, safety and transformation at Sirona care & health; Sara Lowe, CHS business and transformation clinical team lead at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust; and Gabi Cohen, director of delivery at Isla Health. Our panel shared real-world projects, including waitlist validation pathways, self-managed care models, and community-based digital practices. They also highlighted practical insights into how technology is being used to streamline workflows, reduce pressure on staff, and improve patient outcomes.
Lincolnshire’s Health and Care Digital Inclusion Strategy was presented to the ICB for approval, outlining priorities for 2025 – 2028 covering access to devices and data, accessibility and ease of using tech, access to services, skills and capability, beliefs and trust, and leadership and partnerships. It shares results from the Lincolnshire Digital Health Toolkit, created to identify areas at “the greatest risk of being left behind as a result of digitalisation”, making links between the more deprived areas of Lincolnshire and higher rates of digital exclusion.
The Welsh Government has published a prior information notice ahead of a procurement for a supplier who can deliver on the Digital Inclusion Wales contract, in an effort to reduce barriers to access to digital devices and online services. The contract will reportedly focus on delivering a national bilingual programme of activity, supporting digital inclusion across the region. According to the notice, this will be achieved by offering advice and support, mapping digital inclusion throughout Wales and creating digital inclusion resources.
