Tackling the elective backlog – exploring the relationship between deprivation and waiting times

Tackling the elective backlog – exploring the relationship between deprivation and waiting times Long waiting times and growing waiting lists for hospital treatment have been a problem for some time, but now the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issue and waiting lists have grown rapidly. As with other aspects of the pandemic, this has not been experienced equally. Our analysis of waiting list data shows a clear relationship with deprivation, which sees those living in the most deprived areas nearly twice as likely to wait more than a year for treatment compared to those living in the least deprived areas. The King's Fund

See also: 

• NHS waits: More people feeling forced into private healthcare BBC News
• Agony for half of over-50s as it emerges thousands are waiting for surgery amid crisis in the NHS The Daily Mail
• NHS backlog disproportionately affecting England’s most deprived The Guardian