THE NHS carried out two million more appointments in the second half of last year than the same period in 2023, Downing Street has said.
Labour claimed a victory for its plans to bust the waiting list backlog.
The NHS carried out two million more appointments in the second half of last year than the same period in 2023, pictured Health Secretary Wes StreetingGetty
NHS figures show 2.2 million extra tests, scans and treatments from July to November.
Since July, England’s waiting list is down from 7.62million to 7.46million.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We’re delivering on our promise to fix the NHS and make sure people get the care they need, when they need it.
“This milestone is a shot in the arm for our plan to get the NHS back on its feet and cut waiting times.”
NHS Providers, representing hospital bosses, also called it a “significant milestone”.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has slashed targets for next year and told bosses to focus on getting the basics right.
CEO Saffron Cordery said: “We are seeing waiting lists slowly reduce.
“NHS trusts will need to work harder and be more innovative to maintain this pace and progress.”
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