Your Say on Waiting for NHS Treatment
We’re working with NHS England to understand what it’s like for patients to wait for elective care — and how these experiences could be improved for everyone. As part of our work with the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance, we want to hear your views, including how waiting for elective care may affect people of faith.
The research looks at the patient journey while waiting for elective care, focusing on their needs, what makes the experience easier (or harder), and what a positive waiting experience would look like.
What is elective care?
Elective care is care that is planned in advance and covers a wide range of non-emergency services – from diagnostic tests and scans to outpatient appointments, surgery and cancer treatment.
What are the statistics?
Latest figures from the NHS show that at the end of August 2025, 7.4 million treatments were waiting to start, affecting around 6.3 million patients, with nearly 192,000 waiting over a year and a small number waiting more than two years. Only 6 in 10 patients were seen within 18 weeks, falling below the NHs target of 92%. More details on waiting times can be found here.
Why should I get involved?
Your feedback will help shape NHS England’s report and recommendations on minimum standards for elective care. Your views and experiences are important to ensure that elective care standards reflect the needs of all patients, including people of faith.
How can I get involved?
Have your say by completing our short survey and help spread the word by sharing it with your networks. [Access the survey here] The closing date to complete the survey is Wednesday 19th November.
You can also opt to join our online drop-in “coffee” session, taking place at 11am on Tuesday 18th November, to share your experiences, or those of your faith network, in more detail. As a thank-you for your time, participants in the drop-in will receive a £10 voucher. Get in touch at info@faithaction.net if you would like to join this drop in, and we’ll send a joining link.
