The percentage of people waiting over 18 weeks for treatment slightly decreased to 61.5 per cent, while the percentage of those waiting over 52 weeks dropped to just 1.9 per cent, the lowest since June 2020.
This comes as NHS data shows that the waiting list has dropped to 7.29 million following the Elective Reform Plan, which continues to drive NHS services to tackle the longest waits.
According to NHS data, staff delivered a historic high of 18.4 million treatments and operations in 2025, up from 18 million in 2024. It suggests there were 1.43 million treatments delivered in December, an increase of 91,775 on last year, despite 5 days of industrial action by resident doctors, thanks to staff maintaining almost 95 per cent of usual activity during strikes.
Broadstone head of health & protection Brett Hill says: “Waiting lists remained stubbornly high in December, and progress to reduce them appears to have stalled, with rumours swirling of the Government artificially reducing the waiting list.
“Patients continue to face long delays for treatment, and NHS services are struggling to keep up with demand. The threat of further industrial action by doctors risks adding even more pressure to an already stretched system.
“The knock-on effects are being felt across workplaces. Last month, the latest NHS health survey pointed to almost half (46%) of adults had at least one longstanding illness or condition in 2024, up from 35% in 2012.
“Employers are stepping in to protect their staff and maintain productivity. Private medical insurance, health cash plans, and preventative health measures are helping employees access treatment sooner, avoid conditions worsening, and return to full health more quickly.
“With backlogs unlikely to clear anytime soon, businesses will continue to play a key role in supporting employee wellbeing and filling gaps in care while the NHS works to recover.”
Healix Health director of corporate proposition Sarah Taylor says: “Any fall in NHS waiting times over winter is genuinely positive news, not least for people who have been waiting for tests or treatment and want to get back to focusing on recovery and everyday life.
“Even so, waiting lists remain high, and our own data shows how heavily hospital-based care is still relied on, with almost 70 per cent of workplace healthcare usage linked to inpatient, day-case and outpatient treatment. Against that backdrop of sustained pressure on services, the ambitions set out in the NHS cancer plan around earlier diagnosis really matter. Employer-funded healthcare trusts can help build on that progress, working alongside NHS care to support earlier access to treatment and faster returns to health.”
The Exeter head of healthcare distribution Karen Woodley says: “It is encouraging to see NHS waiting times starting to move in the right direction this winter, reflecting the sustained efforts of staff across the system during a period of intense demand. Any reduction in delays matters for patients who have been waiting for tests, treatment or specialist care, and will be welcomed by those beginning to see progress in their care journey.
“At the same time, the wider picture suggests there is more that could be done. PHIN’s latest figures show admissions funded through private medical insurance dipped by around 2 per cent year on year, despite overall private healthcare activity remaining high. That feels like a missed opportunity. Helping people access earlier support, preventative care and complementary routes into private treatment can improve patient experience and play a positive role in easing pressure on NHS services, while supporting the health system as a whole.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting says: “Despite having to deal with flu and industrial action, the NHS has managed to continue cutting waiting lists, thanks to a Herculean effort this winter.
“This government has cut waiting lists by more than 330,000, with hundreds of thousands more people treated within 18 weeks. That’s not happening by chance – it’s because we delivered record levels of care in 2025. This progress is driven by unprecedented investment and modernisation of our health service, and above all by the dedication of NHS staff.
“Whether it’s by opening up new community diagnostic centres, rolling out surgical hubs to tackle backlogs, or investing in modern equipment and technology, we are rebuilding our NHS. There’s so much more to do, but people can take hope and optimism from the fact that the NHS is finally on the road to recovery.”