The NHS waiting list explained
7,158,164 treatments were waiting to start in England at the end of August 2026, up 26,479 on July 2026 and down 154,192 on August 2025.
The figures
- 65% had waited under 18 weeks (the standard is 92%).
- 109,936 had waited over a year.
Latest monthly: NHS England, . Data checked .
Questions
Is the waiting list the number of people waiting?
No. It counts treatment pathways: one person waiting for two different treatments counts twice. NHS England estimates the number of people separately.
What is the 18-week standard?
The NHS Constitution says 92% of people should have waited under 18 weeks from referral. In August 2026, 65% had.
When are the next figures?
NHS England publishes the next month's figures on 12 November 2026, at 9.30am.
Sources: NHS England RTT statistics; the 18-week standard from the NHS Constitution. Last checked 19 October 2026.
What changed this month. Every hospital ranked. Waits by region.