NHS waiting list drop questioned in letter to Guardian
8 reported
A letter published in The Guardian on June 28, 2026, written by Professor Priscilla Alderson, challenges the portrayal of a fall in NHS waiting lists as a government success. The letter states that NHS authorities paid providers £33 per patient to remove thousands from the lists, with many patients still in great need. It also cites a survey of nearly 2,600 people in England that found 16% had used the private sector in the past year. The letter argues that fewer names on the lists help the government appear to reduce backlogs and meet waiting time targets. The author also criticizes praise for a record fall in immigration, noting thousands of vacant NHS and care posts that need immigrants to fill, as well as missing overseas students who helped fund universities. The letter questions the survival of the NHS under a Burnham-Streeting government, referencing Andy Burnham’s talk of nationalising water while not questioning current outsourcing, privatisation, and PFI plans in the NHS.
What’s reported
The letter was written by Professor Priscilla Alderson, professor emerita at University College London.
NHS authorities paid providers £33 per patient to remove thousands from waiting lists.
A survey of nearly 2,600 people in England found 16% had used the private sector in the past year.
The letter states that fewer names on the lists help the government appear to reduce backlogs and meet waiting time targets.
The letter mentions thousands of vacant NHS and care posts that need immigrants to fill.
The letter mentions thousands of missing overseas students who used to help fund universities.
The letter references Andy Burnham talking about nationalising water but not questioning outsourcing, privatisation, and PFI plans in the NHS.
The letter questions how long the NHS will survive under a Burnham-Streeting government.
Key figures
Priscilla Alderson, professor emerita, University College London
Andy Burnham (mentioned in the letter)
Sources: The Guardian
