The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released data on the experiences of NHS healthcare services in England, finding that many patients continue to struggle with access to NHS hospital treatment and GP support.
The ONS has found that from November 2025 to December 2025, 16% of patients on a hospital waiting list had been waiting for more than 12 months.
Around 46% of those on a waiting list rated the overall experience of waiting for their hospital appointment as "poor". A further 30% of those awaiting treatment said that the administration of their care was poor.
When it came to GP surgeries, around 24% of people who tried to contact their surgery were unable to do so on the same day.
Of the 36% of those who requested and were offered a GP appointment but declined, they said they did so because there were no appointments available within two weeks.
Brett Hill, head of health and protection, Broadstone, said: "A new year and a fresh start are badly needed for the Government, as today's data shows the NHS access crisis continues unabated.
"With waiting lists still hovering close to January 2025 levels, it is no surprise that thousands of patients continue to report poor access to care. The threat of further strike action only adds to the risk that pressures on the system could intensify before any improvement is felt."
Hill said the consequences are increasingly visible in the labour market. According to latest figures, 2.81 million people were economically inactive due to long-term sickness between August and October 2025.
This is an increase of nearly 1m from 2019, which Hill said underlines a growing link between healthcare access and workforce participation.
"In response, employers are stepping in to protect both their people and productivity. Greater use of private medical insurance and health cash plans is helping employees access treatment earlier, preventing conditions from escalating and supporting quicker returns to work," Hill added.
"With progress on reducing NHS backlogs proving slow, we expect businesses will continue to play a critical role in supporting employee healthcare and filling gaps in provision throughout 2026."
