Health Services
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment for the reasons for the difference in the number of additional NHS appointments that were provided between (a) July 2024 and June 2025 and (b) the preceding 12 months.
Answered by Karin Smyth
Between July 2024 and June 2025, we delivered over 5.2 million additional appointments compared to the previous year, more than double our pledge of two million. Further information is available at the following link:
Consequently, between the start of July 2024 and the end of June 2025, the waiting list decreased by over 250,000 (252,128) despite over 21 million (21,004,977) new referrals. This comes against the backdrop of 2024/25 Planning Guidance which signalled a reduction in elective activity compared to the 2023/24 financial year.
Thanks to an additional £2.1 billion invested, the Government not only avoided a reduction, but delivered a significant increase in elective activity, as part of the first step commitment to ensuring patients can expect to be treated within 18 weeks. Further information is available at the following link:
| Jul-22 to Jun-23 | Jul-23 to Jun-24 | Jul-24 to Jun-25 |
Working Days | 251 | 252 | 253 |
Total Appointments | 63,175,223 | 69,945,972 | 75,435,185 |
Standardised baseline (253 Days)1 | 63,678,611 | 70,223,535 | 75,435,185 |
Additional Appointments (compared to previous 12 months) | - | 6,544,924 | 5,211,650 |
- Data standardised to 253 working days to ensure comparability
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