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Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive, The King’s Fund, responded to the latest NHS waiting list figures

‘These performance statistics for the NHS in England show green shoots of recovery. Waiting lists for elective care are falling, the interim target for emergency ambulances has been met and 28-day urgent referral target for cancer care is likely to be met.

‘However, it is hard to see how this momentum will be sustained given doctors are walking out on strike and further industrial action looms.

‘Currently, over six million people (7.22 waits) remain on the waiting list for elective treatment. All these people will have been left trying to manage their care and the significant disruption that this causes to their daily lives.

‘Many of these people will also be facing administration issues as they wait months or years for care, as highlighted by our report on NHS administration. This polling highlighted that two thirds of people who had recently used the NHS had experienced at least one admin problem, with a third of patients saying they were not kept updated on how long they would have to wait for treatment and a quarter did not know who to contact while waiting for care.

‘We know that clear communication is key to receiving good quality care, so it is particularly notable that NHS data shows 11% of patients who did not complete their expected pathway are removed from the elective wait list because they missed their first appointment. These patients need good administration more than anyone so that they are not lost in the system and still receive the care they need and deserve.'

Notes to editors