- NHS waiting lists fell by over 43,000 in January, despite the busiest winter on record for the health service.
- Waiting lists have now fallen by more than 374,000 since Labour came into government.
- Ambulance response times are the fastest in half a decade, with A&E waits the shortest for four years.
Luke Pollard MP, Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, has welcomed the latest NHS data showing waiting lists continuing to fall across England, alongside faster ambulance response times and improved A&E performance.
The progress comes despite unprecedented winter pressure on hospitals, including at Derriford Hospital, which serves patients across Plymouth and the wider South West.
Labour’s plan to cut waiting lists combines record investment with reforms to modernise how the NHS works – including more evening and weekend appointments, surgical hubs tackling backlogs and millions more GP appointments.
In Plymouth, improvements will also be supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre currently under construction in the city centre, which will deliver tens of thousands of additional scans and diagnostic tests each year.
By providing CT scans, MRI scans, X-rays and other tests outside Derriford Hospital, the centre will help patients receive diagnoses faster, closer to home, while freeing up hospital capacity for those who need it most.
The Community Diagnostic Centre is part of Luke Pollard’s long-standing campaign to develop a city centre “health village” of NHS services, helping to bring care closer to where people live and making it easier for patients to access appointments.
When Labour came into office in July 2024, more than 7.6 million people were stuck on NHS waiting lists, often unable to work, care for loved ones or enjoy everyday life while waiting for treatment.
Luke Pollard MP said:
“I’m incredibly grateful to NHS staff here in Plymouth, including the brilliant teams at Derriford Hospital, who have worked tirelessly to cut waiting lists despite huge pressure on services.
Thanks to Labour’s record investment, modernisation of services and our Elective Reform Plan, more patients are receiving faster diagnoses and quicker treatment.
The new Community Diagnostic Centre in Plymouth city centre will also play a key role by providing thousands of additional scans and tests each year, helping people get diagnosed sooner and reducing pressure on Derriford.
There is still more to do, but step by step we are getting the NHS back on track so that when people in Plymouth need care, the NHS will be there, and it will not keep them waiting.”