NHS waiting lists are at or near record levels, with over 6 million people in England waiting for treatment. The backlog, which grew dramatically during the Covid-19 pandemic, has not been significantly reduced despite billions in additional NHS funding.
The Scale of the Crisis
Over 6 million people are waiting for NHS treatment in England. Some are waiting more than 18 months for routine procedures. The NHS Constitution's 18-week treatment target is being missed for the majority of specialties.
Reform UK's Plan
Reform UK argues the waiting list crisis is primarily a management failure, not a funding failure. The party wants to redirect money from NHS England's bureaucratic layer — which it says costs over £13 billion per year — into clinical staff and frontline services.
Frequently Asked Questions
As of 2025, over 6 million people are waiting for NHS treatment in England. Waiting times for some procedures exceed two years. Reform UK wants to end NHS waiting lists within two years by recruiting 20,000 more doctors and 40,000 more nurses.
Reform UK would end waiting lists by cutting NHS management (scrapping NHS England), funding 20,000 more doctors and 40,000 more nurses, introducing 20% tax relief on private healthcare, and guaranteeing same-day GP appointments.
Reform UK estimates scrapping NHS England and cutting management layers could save £13.8 billion per year — money they would redirect to frontline care and clinical staff.
The Labour government has pledged additional NHS funding and extended weekend and evening appointment availability. However, waiting lists remain at historically high levels, with the backlog growing during the pandemic not yet cleared.
Reform UK proposes 20% tax relief on private healthcare to encourage those who can afford it to use private providers, reducing demand on the NHS. This model has been used in other countries to maintain a public system while reducing state pressure.
Other Reform UK Policy Areas
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