LABOUR’S NHS waiting list promises look increasingly unlikely after data published today showed a third consecutive rise in delays for planned hospital treatment in England.

The number of treatments waiting to be carried out rose by an estimated 100,000 to 7.41 million at the end of August, according to monthly estimates by NHS England.

Health Foundation think tank’s Dr Francesca Cavallaro warned that the government is on course to fall short on its pledge for 92 per cent of patients waiting for treatments such as knee and hip operations to be seen within 18 weeks by the end of this parliament.

The target has not been met for a decade and “the scale of the challenge remains significant,” she said.

Royal College of Nursing general secretary Professor Nicola Ranger described the figures as “incredibly alarming,” adding: “Even before the cold weather hits, the number of people experiencing long, tortuous waits in A&E are skyrocketing.

“All signs are pointing to a corridor care disaster this winter and ministers must now take urgent steps to keep patients safe.”

Waits worsened over the summer, with only 61 per cent of patients currently being seen for routine operations within three months. 

The government and NHS England have also set a target of March 2026 for fewer than 1 per cent of patients to wait more than 52 weeks to start routine hospital treatment.

The proportion at the end of August remained at 2.6 per cent from a month ago.

Three in four patients were seen within four hours in emergency departments in England last month, down from 75.9 per cent in August.

Labour’s target is for 78 per cent by March 2026.

Keep Our NHS Public co-chair Dr John Puntis told the Morning Star: “Labour’s manifesto promised to get the NHS back on its feet by the next parliament and ensure that performance targets were once again met.

“The recent figures show that progress to date is woefully inadequate.

“The government should now urgently rethink its current strategy of relying on the private sector to deliver extra capacity, since this is clearly not working.”

Health minister Stephen Kinnock said that it had been a “record-breaking” summer, with more tests and checks being done than ever before.

“We know there’s more to do — that’s why we’re pressing ahead with new surgical hubs, evening and weekend scans, and cutting-edge technology to get millions more patients treated on time,” he added.