The variety of folks in England ready to begin routine hospital remedy has hit a report excessive.

An estimated 7.68 million folks have been ready to begin remedy on the finish of July, up from 7.57 million in June.

It is the best quantity since information started in August 2007 and marks the eighth consecutive month of will increase.

Figures additionally confirmed a complete of 389,952 folks in England had been ready greater than a yr - and round 7,289 folks greater than 18 months - to begin routine hospital remedy on the finish of July, the information confirmed.

This is up from 383,083 - and seven,177 - on the finish of June, respectively.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made reducing ready lists one in every of his priorities for 2023, pledging in January that "lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly".

The authorities and NHS England set the ambition of eliminating all waits of greater than 18 months by April this yr, excluding exceptionally complicated instances or sufferers who select to attend longer - and all waits of greater than a yr by March 2025.

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