- Patients residing in England's most deprived areas face longer waiting times for NHS treatment compared to those in wealthier regions, according to new data.
- Analysis by the Health Foundation reveals significant disparities, with some integrated care boards showing nearly a 10 percentage point difference in patients treated within 18 weeks between the most and least deprived areas.
- For example, in Kent and Medway, 56.8 per cent of patients in the most deprived areas were treated within 18 weeks, compared to 65.9 per cent in the least deprived.
- Despite overall improvements in elective care waiting times, 62.5 per cent of people in the most deprived areas were treated within 18 weeks in April 2026, slightly lower than the 63.6 per cent in the least deprived.
- The government aims for 92 per cent of patients to be treated within 18 weeks, but the Health Foundation stresses that equitable improvements are crucial to achieve this target and address persistent inequalities.
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