London records strongest elective waiting time performance in nearly three years

More patients in London are receiving planned NHS treatment within 18 weeks, with the capital recording its strongest elective care performance since 2022.

New NHS England figures show that 66.9% of patients in London were waiting less than 18 weeks for elective treatment, an increase from 60.8% at the start of 2026. The improvement represents the capital’s best performance since June 2022 and exceeds the national interim recovery ambition of 65% for March 2026.

The latest data forms part of a broader improvement in NHS performance across London. During the same reporting period, A&E services achieved their highest four-hour performance since August 2021, while Category 2 ambulance response times were the fastest recorded since May 2021.

NHS England said the progress reflects the work of clinical teams across the capital to increase activity, improve patient flow and reduce waiting times despite continued demand for hospital care.

Although performance has improved, London remains below the NHS constitutional standard, which requires 92% of patients to begin consultant-led elective treatment within 18 weeks of referral. Nationally, reducing elective waiting times remains a key NHS priority as services continue to recover from the backlog created during the COVID-19 pandemic.

NHS England said it will continue working with providers across London to increase capacity and further reduce waiting times, with the longer-term ambition of restoring constitutional standards over the coming years.

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