Written Question·Department of Health and Social Care·UIN 76567

Surgery: Waiting Lists

Tabled: 11 September 2025

Answered: 21 October 2025

Question

Stuart Andrew

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of deliberately imposed minimum waiting times for elective care on the NHS’s compliance with its constitutional access standards.

Answer

Karin Smyth

As set out in the Plan for Change, we are committed to returning to the NHS constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment by March 2029. As of August 2025, the waiting list had reduced ...

ⓘ

This is an extract from the Parliament API. Search the full answer on Parliament.uk (UIN 76567) →