Nearly 120,000 taken off NHS waiting lists in the East in nine months

More than 120,000 patients in the East of England were taken off waiting lists between July 2024 and April this year, latest figures reveal.

Across England, it's more than 500,000 NHS patients who have received life-changing treatments through independent healthcare providers.

It's thought to be the direct result of a government initiative aimed at tackling long NHS waiting lists.

The treatments – equivalent to serving the population of Liverpool – were made possible through the Government’s Independent Sector agreement, part of its Plan for Change, which allows the NHS to make greater use of independent hospitals and clinics to relieve pressure on overstretched services.

Patients are being offered faster access to crucial procedures such as hip replacements, knee surgeries, and ophthalmology treatments, with care remaining free at the point of use.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: "Behind every number on a waiting list is a person in pain. That's why this government is doing all we can to get patients treated faster.

"People shouldn't have to put their lives on hold because of waiting for an appointment, treatment, operation or test and we shouldn’t shy away from using the independent sector to help us undo 14 years of damage to the NHS.

"This partnership means more operations, more treatments, and more people getting back to normal life sooner – all while keeping care free at the point of use. With our Plan for Change, we promised to slash waiting lists, and that's what we're delivering."

The agreement, launched in January 2025, is specifically focused on specialties with the longest waiting times. It enables NHS patients to access spare capacity in the private sector at NHS cost, helping to reduce delays across the country.

The most common procedures provided through this partnership include ophthalmology (23.8%), trauma and orthopaedics (20.9%), and dermatology (14.9%).

Mark Cubbon, NHS England’s Director of Elective Care, Cancer and Diagnostics, said: "Independent sector providers play an important role in supporting NHS efforts to get patients the care they need quicker, with the latest figures showing record numbers of treatments are being carried out.

"NHS use of the private sector has risen significantly since 2021 and our new partnership agreement will help us go even further to widen access to treatment for thousands of patients."

According to government data, waiting lists have now fallen to their lowest level in two years, marking the first April drop since 2008. Regional data shows the North East and Yorkshire led with 116,169 patients removed from waiting lists, followed by the South East (102,909) and the North West (85,936).

Public opinion also appears to favour the initiative, with YouGov polling indicating 70% support for using the private sector to help the NHS manage backlogs.

Among those who have benefited is Darren Grewcock, a security guard and former fitness coach who underwent hip replacement surgery through a full NHS referral to the independent sector.

He said: "I'm a security guard and after my injury, I looked like I wouldn't be able to protect anyone. Mobility wise, I looked 80. I didn't look like a former fitness coach or rugby player. It impacted my sleep terribly. I was taking a lot of painkillers just to get by at work and in training and to get to sleep – it was too much.

"The X-Rays revealed that I had bone-on-bone osteoarthritis on my left hip. I was referred for surgery and given a list of places you can go – which included options in the independent sector.

"Within three days of booking, I had an appointment booked with the consultant. I couldn't believe how quickly he got back to me and the process started. My recovery has been a huge success. I am fitter, stronger, and more mobile than I was at 50."

Analysis by IHPN shows that 96% of people in England live within 30 minutes of an independent provider delivering NHS treatment.