NHS waiting lists remained steady in October, but still far from meeting the 18-week target. The latest NHS performance data arrives as services brace for a new flu variant and resident doctor strikes.
In this visualisation, we have mapped NHS waiting times data at the Integrated Care Board level in England. To explore statistics in your area, double click on the map or use the search bar. Alternatively, click here.
This morning, NHS England released new Referral to Treatment (RTT) Waiting Times figures for October 2025, outlining NHS performance throughout the month. The number of open pathways – where a patient is waiting to start treatment – remained steady at 7,304,189, compared to 7,298,187 the previous month.
In October, the rate of pathways completed within the target 18-week window decreased by 0.1% to 61.7%. This figure continues to fall significantly short of the government’s 92% pledge.
Patients waited an average of 13.3 weeks from referral to treatment in October. The Oral Surgery Service continues to be the poorest performing service, with only 51% of pathways completed within 18 weeks.
At Polimapper, our data team has visualised these NHS waiting time figures by Integrated Care Board (ICB) in England to reveal critical trends in local health provision.
While all ICBs remain far from meeting the target, the NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly ICB has emerged as the best performing board, with 71.4% of pathways closed within target. This contrasts sharply with 52.3% in the Mid and South Essex ICB. Explore the statistics for your area here.
Geodata context
This NHS performance data is set against a backdrop of significant challenges expected this December, driven by a surge in flu cases requiring hospital care and anticipated strike action from resident doctors.
Daniel Elkeles, Chief Executive at NHS Providers, commented: “The NHS is coming under enormous operational pressure and the possibility of further industrial action next week is a huge worry, particularly as we’re facing a tidal wave of flu.”
Regarding waiting times, Professor Vivien Lees, Vice President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, added: “Surgeons want to be operating, cutting waiting times, and helping meet the government’s 18-week pledge. However, ageing infrastructure, archaic IT systems and staff shortages are preventing this from happening effectively.”
“Without urgent investment to modernise buildings, upgrade IT and tackle workforce shortages, the government’s waiting time targets will remain out of reach.”