Health

The hospitals where waiting times are getting worse. Is yours one of them?

January 20, 2026

Nearly a quarter of hospitals in England have reported worsening waiting times since the government's backlog plan was introduced a year ago, according to a BBC analysis. While some progress is noted nationally, 31 hospital trusts have regressed and 17 have made minimal improvements, largely due to staffing shortages, doctor strikes, and IT issues.

Doctors performing surgery

Credit: Co

Key Highlights

25% of hospitals in England have worse waiting times since last year.
31 hospital trusts have gone backwards in addressing waiting times.
17 trusts have shown little progress out of 129 examined.
Challenges include staffing shortages, doctor strikes, and IT problems.
The 18-week waiting target for treatments is a key Labour manifesto pledge.

Sources

The hospitals where waiting times are getting worse. Is yours one of them?

This quick summary is automatically generated using AI based on reports from multiple news sources. The content has not been reviewed or verified by humans. For complete details, accuracy, and context, please refer to the original published articles.

The hospitals where waiting times are getting worse. Is yours one of them?

Key Highlights

Sources

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