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NHS: Standards

Asked by Lee AndersonReform UKDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 5 January 2026UIN 100411

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Prime Minister's oral contribution during Prime Minister's Questions on 10 December 2025, Official Report, col 306, how many of the 5 million additional NHS appointments have taken place.

Answered by Karin Smyth

We exceeded our pledge to provide an extra two million tests, operations, and other appointments during the first year of Government, as an additional 5.2 million appointments were provided between July 2024 and June 2025.

The 5.2 million figure refers to secondary care appointments undertaken within elective care and, importantly, it only includes those that have taken place. It does not include appointments that were cancelled by the patient or provider.

Data published on the 5.2 million additional appointments delivered can be found at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/recovery-of-elective_activity-mi/

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