Before 2020, the NHS in England experienced increased demand alongside declining performance on its main waiting time measures.
In many cases these pressures have increased following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are the main key performance indicators (KPIs) pre and post pandemic. The data is taken from a regular House of Commons library report on NHS Key Statistics (May 2025).
18 Week Target (elective care) = 92% of patients should have definitive treatment within 18 weeks of referral from GP to hospital (e.g. GP to hospital consultant for an operation like a hip replacement or cataract).
- Currently 58% of people achieve the target
- The waiting list for hospital treatment rose to a record of nearly 7.8 million in September 2023. Since then it has fallen by around 4% but remains higher than pre- pandemic levels
- The 18-week treatment target has not been met since February 2016.
4 Hour Target (non-elective/emergency care). The number of people visiting A&E in winter 2024/25 was above pre-pandemic levels. As of April 2025, 40% of patients attending major A&E spent longer than 4 hours in the department. This was higher than pre-pandemic levels, but lower than the peak of 50% in December 2022.
62-Day Cancer Target. The 62-day waiting time standard for cancer has not been met in recent years. Targets have recently changed – see section 3 of the full briefing for details. Previously, the standard measured only waits after GP referral, but now other routes are included, covering around 43% more patients. The 85% target remains the same. In March 2025, on the new standard, 71% of patients were treated within 62 days of referral.
Ambulance response times. These have risen, with the average response to a Category 2 call peaking at over 1 hour 30 minutes in December 2022, compared to a target of 18 minutes. Performance has subsequently improved but remains outside the target.
NHS Staff Numbers Pre/Post Pandemic
NHS staff numbers have increased, with 26% more doctors and 25% more nurses than five years ago.
