Key Summary
- The NHS navigated its busiest winter ever, with over 9.1 million A&E attendances and a record 3.2 million ambulance call-outs.
- The total waiting list dropped to 7.25 million in January 2026 - a decrease of over 43,000 in a single month.
- Average waits for Category 2 calls, which include suspected strokes and heart attacks, fell to 32 minutes and 29 seconds - the best performance in half a decade.
The NHS has emerged from its busiest winter on record, handling over 9 million patients, but kept the waiting lists at their lowest level in nearly three years.
New figures show that A&E attendances between November and February topped 9.1 million (9,110,591) for the first time in history.
Despite this unprecedented pressure - including 130,000 more ambulance handovers than three winters ago - waiting times for patients were the shortest in four years. The four-hour A&E standard reached 73.6 percent, the highest rate since the 2021/22 period.
While 999 demand reached record highs at 3.22 million call-outs, the system responded faster to life-threatening conditions. Average waits for Category 2 calls, which include suspected strokes and heart attacks, fell to 32 minutes and 29 seconds - the best performance in half a decade.
The total elective waiting list continued its downward trend, falling to 7.25 million in January 2026, dropping by 43,666 compared to the previous month. This represents approximately 6.13 million unique patients. Since June 2024, the total list has decreased by more than 374,000 cases, suggesting that long-term recovery plans are beginning to yield consistent results.
NHS National Medical Director Professor Meghana Pandit said: “The NHS was ready to tackle winter head on this year, which is why despite facing record-breaking demand, staff have delivered the shortest winter waiting times for 4 years - while waiting lists have continued to fall.”
“This is proof that the NHS is starting to turn a corner for patients - but we know the job is far from done.”
“For too long, too many patients have faced the indignity of being treated in hospital corridors. That’s why we’re taking a zero-tolerance approach - with hospital leaders out on the wards and corridors making sure patients are treated with the dignity they deserve.”
“I also want to thank the public for their role in supporting the NHS this winter - these figures show the huge impact of the public getting vital winter jabs.”
Health secretary Wes Streeting said: “After years of rising waiting times, patients are finally starting to see things move in the right direction - with waiting lists at their lowest level for almost 3 years and more people getting treated within 18 weeks.
“Despite record demand this winter, A&E and ambulance services improved - meaning patients are getting help faster when they need it most, thanks to the hard work of NHS staff, better planning and modernisation.”
“But we won’t take our foot off the gas. We’ll keep cutting waiting times, backing NHS staff and making sure patients get the high-quality care they deserve.”
