Experts from across the insurance and protection space have responded to the latest NHS Waiting Times Statistics, welcoming signs of progress while warning that long-term sickness and workforce inactivity remain significant challenges for employers and the wider economy.
Sarah Taylor, Director of Corporate Proposition at Healix Health, comments:
“Any reduction in NHS waiting times is welcome news. For the people who’ve been waiting, it means getting closer to a diagnosis, starting treatment and beginning to move forward. But while progress is being made, the reality is that millions of people are still waiting, and the knock-on effects are clear. Recent ONS data showed 148.8 million working days were lost to sickness last year, almost unchanged from 2024 and still nearly 10 million above pre-pandemic levels.”
Shorter waits are part of the solution, but they’re not the whole picture. The government’s Keep Britain Working programme has rightly called on employers to do more to keep employees healthy, and 150 organisations have already signed up to its Vanguard phase. What matters now is turning that commitment into action. Faster access to diagnosis, ongoing support to manage conditions from the outset, and helping people stay connected to work rather than waiting until they’ve fallen out of it altogether.”
Dr David Griffiths, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Teladoc Health UK, comments:
“Any reduction in NHS waiting times is a positive step, and for the patients who’ve been waiting, it makes a real difference. But as a GP, I’m conscious that there are still huge numbers of people, often with difficult-to-manage and worsening symptoms, waiting for care.
And the headline figures may not tell the whole story: patients may spend weeks or months waiting for the scans and tests needed before they can even enter the secondary care pathway. That’s before we even consider GP access. The government is reportedly looking at a new target for 80% of patients to be satisfied with contacting their practice by 2027, which gives you a sense of how much further there is to go.
The reality is that people need support while they wait, not just when they reach the front of the queue. For employers, that means not relying on the NHS alone. Giving employees access to virtual clinical care, whether that’s a GP consultation, physiotherapy or mental health support, can help them manage their condition earlier, stay in work and avoid reaching a point where recovery takes far longer than it needs to.”
Dawn Prescott, Head of Healthcare Proposition at The Exeter, comments:
“Following last month’s fall in waiting times, seeing the rate drop again is testament to the dedication of NHS staff who continue to work incredibly hard under sustained pressure.
With 7.11 million people still waiting for care, it’s not surprising to see private admissions now reaching record levels, with the number of people covered by private medical insurance at its highest for more than 25 years. Given the scale of people turning to private options, it’s clear that these alternatives provide patients with much-needed certainty and an effective way to complement NHS care.”
