·   Almost 100,000 patients are waiting over 18 weeks for elective surgical procedures

·   This compares to over 51,000 patients for these procedures (hip replacement, knee replacement, hernia, adenoid and tonsillectomies) in 2014, a marked deterioration

·    The average waiting time for those 5 procedures is now above 100 days, causing distress, anxiety and deterioration in condition

·    Equipment shortages and/or lack of beds were the most common reasons for surgery cancelled on the day

Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Health, responding to a report today from the Patients Association, said:

“These waiting times are a scandal. The Tories claimed they were protecting the NHS. But patients are waiting above 100 days for operations, sometimes in severe pain or distress, sometimes keeping them off work.

"The blame for this lies squarely with the Tory Government. The most commonly cited cause for cancellations was equipment shortages or lack of beds. At the same time, hospitals are understaffed and facing financial crisis. It is weasel words for the Government to claim that the majority of patients begin treatment within 18 weeks, when the numbers suffering unacceptable waits are rising dramatically. 

"This is unacceptable. The Tories really can’t be trusted with the NHS. Labour will always stand up for the NHS and will tackle the staff shortages that are at the root of this crisis.”