Labour 'disconnected from reality' as a damning report warns patients face waiting twice as long for care as ministers promised

NHS leaders have accused Labour of being 'disconnected from reality' as a damning report warns patients face waiting twice as long for care as ministers promised.The government made tackling long waits a flagship policy when it came to power and vowed that 92 per cent of patients would be treated within 18 weeks of a referral by July 2029.But new analysis by the Health Foundation reveals the figure is more likely to be 35 weeks based on the lacklustre progress over the past two years.The think tank says the list is likely to have fallen by a mere 500,000 between July 2024 and July 2029, taking it from 7.6million to 7.1million.This is a net reduction of just 274 per day, despite ploughing billions of pounds extra of taxpayers' money into the health service.Previous analysis suggested the list would need to fall to 4.4million in order to meet the 18-week target championed by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and former health secretary Wes Streeting.The Health Foundation said GP referrals grew by 1.5 per cent in Labour's first year but by 3 per cent in its second.If referrals continue to grow by 3 per cent a year between now and July 2029 - the latest date at which the government could call the next general election - the growth in removals would need to double, from the current rate of 2.2 per cent to more than 4.5 per cent a year. Previous analysis suggested the list would need to fall to 4.4million in order to meet the 18-week target championed by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and former health secretary Wes Streeting (pictured)Researchers say this now looks unachievable and urged new prime minister Andy Burnham and health secretary Yvette Cooper to consider setting a 'more realistic' goal.Francesca Cavallaro, from the Health Foundation, said: 'I think it's fair to say the prospects of meeting the 18-week target again by the end of Parliament are receding.'As it seems to be unrealistic that we would make the target if things don't change quite drastically, it might be helpful to consider having a different target - a more realistic one - which might enable progress to be made for this target on elective waiting times alongside other areas of health that are important to the public, which we know include things like ambulances and improvements in GP practices.'But she added: 'We feel it's really important the government should not give up the goal of making progress on reducing elective waiting times, with millions of people still waiting a long time for their care.'Matthew Hopkins, acute director at the NHS Alliance, which represents NHS leaders, delivered an even more withering assessment of the government's chances of hitting the target, saying: 'It is not going to happen.'He added: 'These findings underline the need for an honest conversation about the 18-week target, which hasn't been hit for a decade.'Given the severe financial pressures in the NHS, and a relentless rise in demand, it is time to acknowledge that getting to 92 per cent of patients treated within 18 weeks by the end of this parliament is not going to happen.'With a change of prime minister and secretary of state, attention is turning to reform of social care, maternity and early years, and frailty services. New health and social care secretary Yvette Cooper will need to decide whether to stick with the 18-week target championed by a predecessor'We can't have everything, everywhere all at once.'Local NHS leaders are keenly aware of the pain and distress caused by long delays for planned care.'They stand ready to build on the progress that's been achieved, but when policy becomes disconnected from operational reality it's patients who pay the price.'Let's be honest about where we can get to with the resources available, so there is a clear understanding of what can and cannot be achieved.'Over one-third of the public think improving waiting times for A&E (36 per cent) and making it easier to get appointments at GP practices (35 per cent) should be the top priorities for the NHS.This is followed by reducing the number of staff leaving the NHS by improving working conditions (30 per cent), according to a survey of 2,238 people by Health Foundation and Ipsos.A similar proportion prioritise improving waiting times for routine hospital services (28 per cent).Resident doctors' strikes are likely to have reduced elective activity, limiting progress in removing patients from the waiting list, the report notes.Tim Lane, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said: 'At the current pace of improvement, no region is on track to restore the 18-week standard by 2029.'Our own analysis also shows that the number of patients waiting more than a year for treatment has risen for five consecutive months, highlighting the risk that those facing the longest delays could be left behind.'Behind these figures are people who have spent months living with pain, anxiety, and deteriorating health, often unable to work, care for their families, or get on with their lives.'The government has made a clear promise to restore the NHS waiting time standard.'To deliver on that commitment, it must back the NHS with additional investment in surgical capacity, including the workforce, operating theatres and infrastructure needed to treat more patients more quickly and cut lists for good.'A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'This Government has made cutting NHS waiting times a central priority, and we are determined to keep pushing towards our 92 per cent target, so more patients can get the treatment they need, when they need it.'Already, almost 300,000 fewer people are waiting for treatment now than in July 2024, and more patients are being seen within 18 weeks than at this point last year, but we know there is more work to do in order to maintain that progress.'That's why we are investing record funding to fix the NHS estate, opening surgical hubs around the country, ramping up diagnostic activity and rolling out cutting-edge technology, so patients can be diagnosed and treated faster. With that programme of investment and reform, and the hard work of NHS staff, we can keep making the progress on waiting times that everyone wants to see.'