HM Government (Plan for Change)'s pledge

Ending hospital backlogs to meet the NHS standard of 92% of patients in England waiting no longer than 18 weeks for elective treatment.

Made under the 2024 to 2026 Starmer Labour government, as GOV.UK labels it.

Made 2024-12-05 · Deadline this Parliament · Where it was made · archived copy · Government publication

What the official figures show

NHS constitutional standard: patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment, by the end of this Parliament (target)

92%

2026-10-23 · HM Government, Plan for Change · receipt

Patients waiting to start NHS elective treatment in England (pathways), end of August 2026 (latest)

7.4million

2026-10-23 · NHS England, Referral to Treatment waiting times · receipt

Patients waiting to start NHS elective treatment in England (pathways), end of June 2024 (baseline)

7.6million

2026-10-23 · NHS England, Referral to Treatment waiting times · receipt

Share of patients on the NHS elective waiting list in England waiting up to 18 weeks, August 2026 (latest)

65.2%

2026-10-23 · NHS England, Referral to Treatment waiting times · receipt

Share of patients on the NHS elective waiting list in England waiting up to 18 weeks, June 2024 (baseline)

58.9%

2026-10-23 · NHS England, Referral to Treatment waiting times · receipt

These figures are repeated from their sources and update automatically. We don't say whether the pledge has been kept.