Time and again, I hear stories from around North West Cambridgeshire about how much our local NHS matters. Access to timely diagnoses, treatment, and GP appointments makes a real difference to families, yet for years, many people have faced long waits for hospital procedures and diagnostics.
So it’s welcome to see recent figures showing that the NHS waiting list for planned treatment has fallen to its lowest level in nearly three years, with the waiting list reduced by more than 86,000 in November to around 7.31 million. That’s the second-largest monthly drop recorded in 15 years outside the unusual context of the pandemic.
This improvement comes after the introduction of Labour’s Elective Reform Plan, which has expanded evening and weekend clinics, opened new surgical hubs, brought more diagnostics closer to patients, and sent expert teams into trusts with the longest backlogs. Over the past year, there have also been fewer cases where patients waited beyond the key 18-week treatment standard.
We’re also seeing Labour’s investment take shape locally. Construction has begun on a new Community Diagnostic Centre on Wellington Street, which North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust will run.
Due to open later this year, it will provide MRI, X-ray, and ultrasound scanning, alongside cardiology and respiratory diagnostics, helping patients get tests and results more quickly, without always needing to travel to a busy hospital site.
For people locally, these changes can make a real difference. Faster diagnoses reduce uncertainty for families, increased treatment capacity helps people return to work and everyday life sooner, and expanded services in community settings can take pressure off hospital sites. These are the kinds of practical improvements residents have been asking for.
At the same time, the figures underline that winter pressures remain significant. Hospitals are still seeing high levels of flu and norovirus cases, and emergency services have faced record demand. While planned care waiting lists are improving, urgent and emergency care continues to be stretched – which is we need people to only use A&E when it’s truly an emergency and look to NHS 111, local GP services, and community pharmacies for other needs.
I’ve heard from many residents about long A&E waits and ambulance response times, and I continue to raise those concerns directly with Ministers and local NHS leaders. Bringing waiting lists down and ensuring day-to-day emergency care runs smoothly are both essential parts of the job.
What’s clear from the latest data is that progress is happening thanks to sustained effort and investment from this government. Hard-working NHS staff are managing record levels of demand and still finding ways to cut backlogs — and that’s something to acknowledge.
But our work isn’t done. I’ll keep pushing for further improvements, including more local diagnostic capacity, support for GP services, and addressing the pinch points that affect people week after week.