Metric permalink
NHS referral-to-treatment waiting list (England)
Part of the Public Service Capacity domain. Total number of incomplete referral-to-treatment pathways in England, measuring accumulated unmet demand for elective NHS care.
Latest data
Latest reading
July 2026
Change between the two latest observations (June 2026 to July 2026), in stress score.
A higher reading is treated as worse for this indicator.
Score composition
Stress score
Since the September 2026 release
What changed on this indicator between the two releases: new observation, source changed.
Blended from two measured components: (2/3 weight) and trend (1/3 weight); where no trend can be computed the metric is scored on its level alone. Volatility is published as a diagnostic and does not enter the blend. Full formula on the methodology page.
Level · 2/3 weight
Percentile: this metric is scored against its own history, where today sits between its best and worst recorded years.
Trend · 1/3 weight
Measured from the direction and size of the change between the two most recent readings.
Volatility · diagnostic, not blended
92Measured from how much this indicator has swung period on period across its recorded history.
Data confidence and provenance
Confidence and source
How much weight to put on the reading, the mean data-confidence across the component metrics (source quality, recency and completeness).
Source
Consultant-led RTT waiting times
- Update frequency
- Monthly
- Reliability
- high
Provenance
- Provider
- NHS England
- Series ID
- RTT incomplete pathways
- Frequency
- monthly
- Accessed
- 1 October 2026
Known weakness
Covers England only; pathway counting rules have changed over time, and the list excludes patients who have given up seeking treatment.
Notes
Verified official value from NHS England (RTT incomplete pathways), accessed 2026-10-01.
Historical values
History
| Period | Value | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 4.6 | |
| 2020 | 4.57 | |
| 2021 | 6.1 | |
| 2022 | 7.1 | |
| 2023 | 7.6 | |
| Jan 2026 | 7.25 | |
| Mar 2026 | 7.11 | |
| Apr 2026 | 7.22 | |
| May 2026 | 7.28 | |
| June 2026 | 7.27 | |
| July 2026 | 7.33 |