In March 2025, the number of patients waiting over 65 weeks for treatment significantly decreased to 7,381, down from 13,223 in February and a staggering 48,967 in March 2024.

The proportion of patients receiving treatment within 62 days of a suspected cancer referral rose to 71.4%, the highest level since early 2022, indicating improvements in cancer care.

Ambulance response times for life-threatening incidents improved to an average of 7 minutes and 43 seconds in April, the fastest since May 2021, although still above the target of seven minutes.

The average response time for emergency calls also saw a reduction, averaging 27 minutes and 34 seconds in April, down from 28 minutes and 34 seconds in March.

Despite these improvements in treatment and response times, the overall NHS waiting list increased for the first time in seven months, reaching approximately 7.42 million treatments by the end of March 2025.

NHS England reported a record month in March 2025, delivering over 100,000 more treatments compared to March 2024, showcasing the system's capacity to handle increased demand.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis noted the immense pressure on NHS staff, who are managing both a historic backlog and a surge in new patient referrals, while still increasing the number of treatments delivered.

To further improve surgical capacity and meet waiting time targets, Professor Frank Smith from the Royal College of Surgeons emphasized the urgent need for more operating theatres.

In response to these challenges, Health Secretary Wes Streeting introduced a reform package designed to improve NHS performance, which includes rewarding leaders for reducing waiting times.

Streeting acknowledged the ongoing efforts to tackle the waiting list issue, highlighting that over 3.6 million additional appointments have been offered since July 2024.

Sarah Scobie from the Nuffield Trust cautioned that while reducing waiting lists is essential, emergency care must not be overlooked, as many patients still face long waits in A&E.

Seasonal factors typically influence waiting list sizes, with historical trends showing increases in early months of the year due to post-winter treatment demand.