England Hits Interim NHS Target for 65% of Patients Treated in 18 Weeks

England's government reached an interim target to speed up hospital treatment, with 65.3% of patients seen within 18 weeks by March 2026.

The goal called for 65% of patients to receive treatment in that time frame. The figure just cleared the mark and serves as the first step toward a 92% target by the end of Parliament in 2029, a central Labour manifesto promise.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting spoke as speculation grows that he may challenge for prime minister. "It means we are right on track to deliver the fastest reduction in waiting times in the history of the NHS," he said.

"That is thanks to the government's investment, modernisation, and the remarkable efforts of staff right across the country."

The overall waiting list fell from 7.2 million to 7.1 million in one month, the lowest level in three and a half years.

"Today's achievement goes beyond a set of remarkable statistics – it shows that we're making real inroads on the things that matter to our patients and communities," Streeting added.

He called the progress "all the more extraordinary" since the NHS dealt with repeated strikes by resident doctors.

Experts cautioned that much work remains to reach the 92% target, unmet for more than a decade. Tim Mitchell of the Royal College of Surgeons of England said staff were working at full capacity, but their efforts suffered from years of underinvestment in buildings and equipment.