Responding to the NHS monthly performance figures for June 2017, Richard Murray, Director of Policy at The King’s Fund, said: ‘The fact that there are now more than four million people waiting for treatment is a symbolic moment for the NHS.
‘While what matters most for patients is how long they wait, taken together with the fact that the NHS has missed the waiting times standard for more than a year, these statistics show once again that it is unrealistic to expect the NHS to continue to be able to offer the same standards of care within the current budget.
‘But while the waiting list will be the focus of attention, we should not overlook that the figures contain some positive news on A&E waiting times. The NHS seems to have checked the rise in people waiting more than four hours at A&E, and now seems to have a realistic chance of meeting the aim of 90 per cent of people waiting less than four hours by September. The next test for A&E will come – as it always does – in the winter.’