Analysis suggests entire NHS waiting list could reach 7.2 million by the end of September. One in eight people waiting for treatment

NHS waiting lists could double by the autumn, with more than seven million patients facing delays, new forecasts suggest.

Medics called for urgent action to prevent a winter crisis. Amid warnings from NHS chiefs that restarting routine services could be even more challenging than stopping them.

A report by analysts suggests that as a result of delays caused by the virus. 1.3 million patients have added to waiting lists for outpatient appointments.

The NHS already has a record 4.4 million people waiting to see a specialist, for conditions including heart problems, cancer and arthritis.

The analysis by Medefer, a healthcare provider to the NHS. Estimates that 3.5 million people will need an outpatient appointment this month as services resume…

Avoid long NHS waiting list; it’s best to use a broker to review private healthcare to find the best deal says Switch Health

Because the NHS will get overwhelmed due to the demand of COVID-19. Switch Health can offer a free no-obligation quote to make sure you get the best deal to avoid NHS waiting list.

Maximum waiting times for non-urgent referrals

The maximum waiting time for non-urgent, consultant-led treatments is 18 weeks. Through the NHS e-Referral Service, or when the hospital or service receives your referral letter.

However, your right to an 18-week waiting time does not apply if:

• you choose to wait longer
• delaying the start of your treatment is in your best clinical interests, for example, when stopping smoking or losing weight first is likely to improve the outcome of your treatment
• it is clinically appropriate for your condition to monitored in secondary care without clinical intervention or diagnostic procedures at that stage
• you fail to attend appointments that you had chosen from a set of reasonable options
• the treatment is no longer necessary