More than one in 10 people are now on a waiting list for NHS treatment in 22 CCG areas, according to analysis carried out by the Labour Party.
The analysis of NHS data showed that the situation is worst in NHS Birmingham and Solihull, where the number of patients on waiting lists stands at 146.7 per 1,000 population (one in seven people) and in Stockport, at 132.6 (one in eight people).
The overall treatment backlog now stands at 5.3 million patients waiting for elective care, according to latest statistics.
The data analysis further showed that 10 CCGs have more than 100,000 patients on their waiting lists, including NHS Black Country and West Birmingham, NHS Kent and Medway and NHS Devon CCG.
The Labour Party argued that the figures, which it presented ahead of the second reading of the Government’s new Health and Care Bill, showed that ‘now is not the time’ for NHS reorganisation.
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: ‘NHS staff have been through the most intense 18 months in the history of the health service and Covid admissions are rising steeply again. Waiting times for operations are increasing, young people are struggling to access adequate mental health support and cancer patients see vital treatment and surgery cancelled.’
Arguing that the proposed legislation will bring focus away from reducing the treatment backlog, Mr Ashworth said that ‘every day NHS staff are focused on this restructuring is a day less they are spending on bringing down waiting lists and providing coordinated care’.
And he added that ‘Labour will be voting against the legislation at second reading’.
The new Health and Care Bill, which includes powers to remove CCGs and replace them with new integrated care systems (ICSs), was been brought to Parliament last week in the next step towards becoming law.
The proposals, first published in a white paper in February, will see ICSs placed on a statutory footing so they become responsible for commissioning and bringing together local NHS and local government services, such as those covering social care and mental health.
The second reading of the Bill is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday 14 July).
Waiting list data in full:
CCGs with more than 1 in 10 of their population on the waiting list for NHS treatment:
| CCG Name | Number waiting | Per 1,000 population |
| NHS BIRMINGHAM AND SOLIHULL CCG | 173,173 | 146.7 |
| NHS STOCKPORT CCG | 38,910 | 132.6 |
| NHS SALFORD CCG | 33,083 | 127.8 |
| NHS MANCHESTER CCG | 67,450 | 122.0 |
| NHS SOUTH EAST STAFFORDSHIRE AND SEISDON PENINSULA CCG | 26,631 | 117.4 |
| NHS EAST AND NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE CCG | 64,831 | 113.4 |
| NHS CASTLE POINT AND ROCHFORD CCG | 19,636 | 110.5 |
| NHS SOUTHEND CCG | 20,186 | 110.2 |
| NHS BURY CCG | 21,012 | 110.0 |
| NHS GREATER PRESTON CCG | 22,210 | 109.0 |
| NHS HULL CCG | 28,132 | 108.3 |
| NHS STAFFORD AND SURROUNDS CCG | 16,797 | 106.8 |
| NHS DEVON CCG | 127,813 | 106.4 |
| NHS WEST SUSSEX CCG | 91,199 | 106.4 |
| NHS EAST STAFFORDSHIRE CCG | 13,818 | 106.3 |
| NHS HEYWOOD, MIDDLETON AND ROCHDALE CCG | 23,643 | 106.3 |
| NHS CHORLEY AND SOUTH RIBBLE CCG | 18,694 | 104.7 |
| NHS BLACKPOOL CCG | 14,389 | 103.2 |
| NHS TRAFFORD CCG | 24,491 | 103.2 |
| NHS STOKE ON TRENT CCG | 27,131 | 102.5 |
| NHS CANNOCK CHASE CCG | 14,082 | 102.3 |
| NHS BRIGHTON AND HOVE CCG | 29,129 | 100.1 |
CCGs with more than 100,000 people on the waiting list for NHS Treatment
CCG Name Number waiting Per 1,000 population NHS NORTH EAST LONDON CCG 182,518 90.2 NHS NORTH WEST LONDON CCG 178,852 85.0 NHS BIRMINGHAM AND SOLIHULL CCG 173,173 146.7 NHS SOUTH EAST LONDON CCG 151,896 83.5 NHS KENT AND MEDWAY CCG 150,752 81.0 NHS NORTH CENTRAL LONDON CCG 136,538 90.4 NHS DEVON CCG 127,813 106.4 NHS BLACK COUNTRY AND WEST BIRMINGHAM CCG 125,715 91.3 NHS SOUTH WEST LONDON CCG 122,758 81.6 NHS HAMPSHIRE, SOUTHAMPTON AND ISLE OF WIGHT CCG 113,269 70.4
Source: Analysis of NHS data carried out by the Labour Party
