"With the headline NHS target now looking set to be missed, the UK economy cannot afford for health to be an afterthought in the Budget."
- Brett Hill - Broadstone
New data from the NHS has revealed that the referral-to-treatment waiting list continued to rise in August, increasing to 7.37 million, approximately 40,000 more people than the 7.33 million reported in July.
This marks the highest level since October 2025, when the waiting list stood at 7.40 million, and the second consecutive monthly increase following a slight dip in June. Overall, the waiting list has risen by around 150,000 people in the last six months.
Nevertheless, the waiting list remains lower by around 30,000 people compared to the 7.40 million on the waiting list in August 2025.
Separate data released today by NHS England found that waiting times for diagnostic tests, such as an X-ray or CT scan, have risen year-on-year by 8.9%, or 149,310 people, totalling 1.83 million patients at the end of August 2026.
24.7% of this group, or 451,008 patients, were waiting six weeks or more from referral for one of the 15 key diagnostic tests. Compared with the same period last year, the number of patients waiting six weeks or more increased by 47,669.
This data comes amid reports that the headline NHS waiting time target will not be met by the end of this parliament, putting fresh pressure on the Chancellor to set out how the NHS and the nation's health will be prioritised in the upcoming Budget.
"With the Budget on the horizon, today's figures make clear that progress in reducing the NHS treatment backlog has stalled, with the size of the waiting list essentially unchanged from where it stood a year ago," Brett Hill, head of health and protection at Broadstone, said.
"If we factor in the growing backlog of people waiting for diagnostic tests, it becomes all too clear that more funding alone is not delivering the progress the government promised, as systemic NHS capacity constraints are colliding with the twin realities of an ageing population and record levels of obesity.
"With the headline NHS target now looking set to be missed, the UK economy cannot afford for health to be an afterthought in the Budget.
"The longer people wait for a diagnosis or treatment, the greater the risk that health issues develop into serious or chronic conditions, forcing many to take time off work or leave the workforce altogether. That is a direct hit to productivity and the public finances.
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"The UK's traditional healthcare model is clearly no longer fit for purpose, and a new partnership between the public and private sector is desperately needed. The findings of the Keep Britain Working Review were a welcome first step, but the Budget is the moment to back it up with concrete incentives for employers to commit to long-term investment in workforce health, such as tax relief on employer-funded health benefits and wellbeing support services.
"In the meantime, employers looking to manage their people-asset risks effectively are already deploying preventative healthcare and early intervention strategies. Expanding access to PMI or introducing health cash plans, regular health screenings and private GP services can all help catch problems early and speed up recovery before conditions become chronic or result in prolonged sickness absence.
"We expect businesses to keep expanding access to private healthcare through innovative health and wellbeing schemes to tackle this growing health crisis."
Sarah Taylor, director of corporate healthcare proposition at Healix Health, noted that "another rise in the number of people accessing NHS mental health services comes after July's figures showed 2.41 million people were already in contact with services and more than half a million new referrals were made.
"More people are reaching out for help, but demand is still growing faster than services can keep up with, and for many the wait for support plays out while they're still holding down a job, often quietly and without their employer knowing.
"That is why the support employers already provide needs to be easy to reach, particularly when it comes to mental health. Our own claims data shows that 32% of mental health claims now come through digital pathways, up from 27.5% the previous year, which tells us people increasingly want support they can get to quickly and on their own terms.
"For someone struggling while they wait for NHS care, the easier it is to access the help their employer already offers, the sooner they can start getting better."
