Patients across the South East are receiving faster diagnoses, needing fewer appointments and getting more convenient care with the NHS waiting list now the lowest it has been since May 2023. 

Today’s data shows that at the end of December 2025, 1.79 million people in the South East were on the waiting list to begin treatment, the lowest number since May 2023 when 1.81 million people were waiting.  

Trusts across the region are going further and faster than ever before, embracing new technologies and AI to cut waiting times, speed up care and boost productivity.  

From robotic surgeries, AI cataract care, one stop shops for common conditions, diagnostics closer to home and remote monitoring, NHS teams are redesigning how people access care to help slash waiting times with the region seeing the largest proportional reduction in the waiting list since pre-covid. 

Dr Christopher Tibbs, Medical Director for NHS England South East, said:  “Across the South East, teams are embracing new technology, smarter routes to care and more joined‑up working to improve care for patients. These innovations are already delivering faster diagnosis, fewer delays and more personalised support which is clear through the reduction in the waiting list in the region. We are committed to continuing to go further and faster so every patient benefits from the very best the NHS can offer.” 

One of the areas where the region is leading the way is the use of AI to speed up access to care and improve productivity. Previously cataract surgery patients in the South East faced multiple appointments and long waits before receiving treatment. A new AI‑enabled cataract service, known as DORA, is simplifying the process and helping people get surgery sooner.  

DORA replaces several pre‑ and post‑operative appointments with automated, clinically validated AI conversations that guide patients through checks, scheduling and follow‑ups. It also helps people choose where to have their surgery using real‑time information on waiting times and travel distances.  

Automated post‑operative assessments are freeing up almost 90,000 follow‑up appointments a year and almost 22,000 nursing hours – allowing patients to recover at home while ensuring those with complications are identified quickly for care.

As well as DORA, trusts across the region are further innovating to help cut waiting lists, perform more surgeries and improve care for patients. At Hampshire Hospitals, the trust is reaping the benefits of the newest model of the Da Vinci 5 robot to perform more surgeries with quicker recovery times for patients. As the first trust in the country to have the new model, surgeons can now perform six gallbladder surgeries a day, up from four, and five hernia repairs a day up from four, with a move to make pelvic floor surgery day cases on the cards – speeding up recovery time for patients and maximising theatre space and hospital beds.    

In Oxfordshire, a one-stop breathlessness service is helping patients get answers sooner. The service brings together specialists from Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford Health, primary care, respiratory physiotherapy and the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC). Instead of attending several appointments across different sites, patients now receive their assessment, tests and clinical review in a single visit – reducing unnecessary apportionments and freeing up clinical time for more complex cases.   

These clinics at the CDCs are also helping bring care closer to home for people who struggle to travel. Patients say the service has made a huge difference. One told the team: “I’ve been put on what feels like the right treatment pathway and sorting out my breathing is helping to sort out lots of other issues.” Another described the experience as “excellent in every way…no waiting, extremely efficient.” 

These services are part of a huge effort across the South East to modernise diagnostics and improve patient experience. By working across primary, community and specialist services, NHS teams are reducing waits, cutting unnecessary appointments and ensuring patients receive faster answers and more personalised care.