England’s NHS waiting list grew slightly in June, reaching 7.37 million people — up by 10,000 from the previous month. While this is still lower than the peak of 7.62 million recorded last year, analysts suggest the numbers may be influenced by patients being removed from the list without receiving treatment. Such removals can occur when patients recover, seek private care, or, in some cases, pass away.

Hospitals have been encouraged for years to carry out “validation” exercises to remove people who no longer require treatment, with financial incentives offered for doing so. Documents seen by the BBC reveal that between March and April alone, these checks reduced the list by 100,000. Without this, the total would have risen. The Nuffield Trust, however, believes the true figure could be even higher, averaging more than 200,000 removals per month over the last two years.

Dr Becks Fisher from the Nuffield Trust warned that while validation is often necessary, it can give the misleading impression that waiting list reductions are the result of treating more patients. In reality, referrals continue to outpace treatments delivered.

The Department of Health and Social Care defended the approach, insisting that validation helps ensure patients receive the right care promptly and improves efficiency, while stressing that the NHS is still treating increasing numbers of patients.