James Naish, MP for Rushcliffe, has welcomed new NHS figures showing significant improvements in waiting times and service performance, with patients across Nottinghamshire and the country now being seen faster than in recent years.
The latest data shows waiting lists fell by 110,000 in March alone, marking the largest monthly reduction outside the pandemic since 2008. The NHS also met its key elective care target, with 65.3% of patients now treated within 18 weeks. Overall, the waiting list has fallen to its lowest level in three and a half years, with around half a million fewer people now waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment compared to July 2024.
James Naish said the improvements represent “great progress for patients” and paid tribute to NHS staff across Nottinghamshire for their continued efforts under sustained pressure on services. He said: “These are hugely encouraging results for patients in Rushcliffe and across Nottinghamshire. For years, too many people were left waiting too long for operations, appointments and treatment. Seeing waiting lists fall by more than 110,000 in a single month is a major milestone and shows the NHS is moving in the right direction.
“What matters most is that people are now getting diagnosed sooner, treated faster and able to get back to their normal lives more quickly. That makes a real difference to families across our community. A big thank you must go to NHS staff across our area for the extraordinary work they continue to do under significant pressure.”
The Rushcliffe MP also noted progress at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, where performance has improved significantly over the past year. The Trust increased the proportion of patients treated within 18 weeks from just over 55% in January to 63.5% by March, representing the strongest improvement in the region. Teams have expanded outpatient capacity, improved referral and booking systems, and strengthened collaboration with community services to help reduce delays and improve patient flow.
Innovations including the introduction of new AI-supported pathways for suspected skin cancer referrals are also expected to further speed-up diagnosis and treatment.
James Naish added: “It is particularly encouraging to see Nottinghamshire helping lead the way with innovation and practical improvements that are directly benefiting patients.
“The work taking place at Nottingham University Hospitals shows how investment, reform and new technology can improve care locally. There is still more to do, but these figures show genuine momentum and clear progress for patients across Rushcliffe.”
Nationally, the NHS has also recorded improvements across a range of services including faster ambulance response times for strokes and heart attacks, the best A&E performance in five years, the recruitment of 2,000 additional GPs, early achievement of mental health staffing targets, and more balanced finances alongside improved productivity.
