Covid-19 Crisis: NHS Waiting List Could Hit 10m

‘Uphill battle’ to sort out patient care

- Hanna Geissler

Ten million people may be on NHS waiting lists by the end of the year due to delays caused by Covid-19, health chiefs warn today.

The figure is based on “realistic scenario” modelling for England in which services are back at full capacity in 12 months.

It will near 11 million if the UK is hit by a second wave and no vaccine or treatment is found, according to the NHS Confederation.

The news comes after 286 new deaths yesterday took Britain’s coronavirus toll to 40,883.

Around 4.2 million people were already on waiting lists for routine treatments including cataract removals and hip or knee replacements when the outbreak hit.

Further delays due to the pandemic and challenges with staffing and social distancing mean the backlog has now skyrocketed.

Patients affected during the 79 days the UK has spent in lockdown include those waiting for non-urgent surgery, cancer treatment, and heart procedures.

A report from the NHS Confederation, which represents more than 500 health and care bodies, says the NHS “faces an uphill battle” in coming months.