Responding to today's figures (17 April 2026) that show that despite record demand in March, NHS waiting lists are falling, and services are close to meeting key elective recovery targets, Dr Clare McNaught, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh said:
"Today's good news is testament to the hard work and commitment of NHS staff. Waiting lists are down by over 400,000. and ambulance and A&E waits are both at their best for almost half a decade."
"The latest NHS consultant‑led referral‑to‑treatment (RTT) waiting times also show that 62.6% of patients were waiting under 18 weeks for treatment at the end of February. This performance figure represents a 1.1 percentage point increase from January 2026 and whilst it falls short of the 65% interim target set for March, this is good news for patients."
"We are conscious that the NHS workforce remains under significant pressure and a lack of theatre space and beds, and problems with patient discharge, present their own challenges."