New NHS waiting list breakdowns to tackle inequalities - our response

Today, the NHS has for the first time published waiting list figures, broken down by age, sex, ethnicity, and deprivation levels, in a drive to address unfair variation in patient care.

The NHS has committed to publishing the data as part of its Elective Care Reform Plan.

We have for a long time called for the NHS to publish a demographic breakdown of waiting times alongside its monthly waiting times figures to understand and take action on healthcare disparities. 

Louise Ansari, our chief executive said: 

“We welcome the work from NHS England to publish this important data, which we have called for since our report on waiting list disparities in 2022.

“Our research showed people living in deprived areas, women, disabled people, and those from ethnic minority backgrounds had worse experiences and longer waits for care.

“Understanding who is waiting longer for hospital treatment is the first step to addressing inequalities and making sure everyone has the same access to care, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity or where they live.

“However, there is more to do. The government must make plans to collect further demographic information in future, including whether people have physical or learning disabilities, and whether they have caring responsibilities.

“Any data must be cross-analysed to understand the importance of intersectionality. For example, our own research showed that people from ethnic minority backgrounds and those living in deprivation were more likely to experience a cancelled appointment than white British people or those who are more well off. People from ethnic minority backgrounds who also live in a deprived area had the worst experiences of all.

“Crucially, work must be done to take these findings forward, understand why some groups face inequalities, and address the issues as soon as possible.”