NHS to miss targets for cutting A&E wait times and performance in England
Exclusive: Health secretary’s pledges in doubt as analysis shows health service will not deliver key improvementsThe NHS is set to miss key targets to shorten waiting times for help at A&E, cancer care and planned hospital treatment, leaving millions of patients facing persistently long...
<p>Exclusive: Health secretary’s pledges in doubt as analysis shows health service will not deliver key improvements</p><p>The NHS is set to miss key targets to shorten waiting times for help at A&E, cancer care and planned hospital treatment, leaving millions of patients facing persistently long delays.</p><p>The health service in England will not deliver a series of <a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/2025-26-priorities-and-operational-planning-guidance/">milestone improvements </a>in its performance that ministers demanded it achieve by the time the fiscal year ends on Tuesday, a Guardian analysis of the NHS’s most recent data has found.</p><p>The number of people forced to wait more than 13 weeks for a test – well over the six-week supposed maximum – has risen to 139,652, the highest number since January 2024.</p><p>Based on its recent growth, the diagnostic waiting list will hit 2 million by September next year.</p><p>While NHS trusts are delivering large volumes of diagnostic tests, the waiting list for them is still growing.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/mar/29/nhs-miss-targets-wait-times-performance-england-wes-streeting">Continue reading...</a>
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