Welsh NHS Treatment Backlog Rises for Fourth Month as Long Waits Persist

The NHS Wales treatment waiting list increased for a fourth consecutive month in July 2026, according to the Welsh Government’s most recent official performance summary.

Just under 709,700 referral-to-treatment pathways were waiting to start care at the end of July, around 11,300 more than in June. The previous month’s figure was approximately 698,400. As with England, these figures count care pathways rather than unique people, so some patients may appear more than once.

The longest waits

More than 94,900 pathways had been waiting over a year, while just over 4,700 had waited more than two years. The two-year figure was higher than in June but remained far below the peak recorded in March 2022, according to the government publication.

Provisional August estimate

The same statistical release included a provisional estimate of approximately 714,200 pathways at the end of August. Because the figure is provisional, it should not be presented as an already finalised August total. Revisions are possible when the full monthly statistics are published.

What is measured

Referral-to-treatment statistics cover patients waiting to begin consultant-led treatment and provide one part of the picture of access to care. They do not, on their own, cover every form of NHS waiting time, such as urgent care, mental health or some community services.

The numbers provide a test for efforts to shorten the longest waits and prevent the overall backlog growing. Keep Updated UK will continue to use the Welsh Government’s dated publications and separate confirmed figures from early estimates.