NHS teams across the North East and Yorkshire have helped thousands more patients access treatment sooner through expanded services, additional clinics, improved pathways and increased diagnostic capacity.

New data, published today (Thursday 14 May), shows the NHS has hit the 65% target for the number of patients waiting 18-weeks, with NHS teams across North East and Yorkshire helping drive progress towards the milestone. Across England, the overall waiting list fell to 7.11m, the lowest in three and half years and down by over half a million (515,000) since July 2024.

For patients, this means faster access to treatment, greater certainty about when they will be seen, and renewed confidence that the NHS will be there when needed. Timely care prevents deterioration, improves outcomes, and ensures people receive the right treatment at the right time.

NHS staff across our region have worked tirelessly, expanding services, running additional clinics, improving pathways, and increasing diagnostic capacity. These efforts have helped more patients be seen faster and have contributed to national targets.

Ophthalmology teams at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust have improved theatre efficiency and patient flow through better scheduling, streamlined cataract pathways and one stop ‘Super Saturday’ clinics, helping create a strong pool of patients ready for surgery and cutting the number of patients waiting more than 40 weeks for treatment by over half in six months.

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust has drastically reduced waiting times by introducing weekend operating sessions, AI imaging, and robotic surgery, virtually eliminating year-long waiters. These innovations have increased surgical capacity, improved outcomes, and shortened hospital stays for patients across Calderdale and Huddersfield.

Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has reduced the number of patients waiting for treatment across Medical Services by almost 3,000 since September last year through strong operational leadership, improved pathways and closer collaboration between teams, with major improvements across services including cardiology, gastroenterology and respiratory medicine.

Meanwhile, in Gateshead, more than three quarters of patients now begin treatment within 18 weeks after changes such as simplified referral routes, quicker specialist assessment and new women’s health services closer to home reduced long waits.

Dr Hamish McLure, Regional Medical Director for the North East and Yorkshire, said: “Reducing waiting times means intervening before conditions worsen, improving patient outcomes, and ensuring people get the right care at the right time. Timely treatment is at the heart of providing safe, effective care.

“I want to sincerely thank all of our staff. Their commitment to patient care is what makes this progress possible.”

Chief Operating Officer, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Gemma Berriman, said: “Our Trust continues to be one of the best in the country for planned surgery waiting times, consistently achieving national targets for treatment, and I am pleased to say that we have no patients waiting more than 52 weeks for surgery. Thanks to the hard work, and innovative nature of our clinical and non-clinical teams we have made a significant difference to waiting times for our patients.”

The Elective Recovery Plan sets the blueprint to return to the standard of 92% of patients treated within 18 weeks by March 2029 and today’s milestone alongside the next target, reaching 70% by March 2027, lays the foundation for achieving that standard.

Across secondary care settings the NHS will continue the expansion of surgical hubs, and community diagnostic centres, refining pathways, and using data to streamline care. Primary care will also play its part by supporting patients closer to home, offering pre- and post-operative care, and working in partnership with hospitals. Together, these actions will ensure waiting times continue improving, giving patients faster, high-quality care when needed most.