13 November 2025

Not enough progress in NHS wait times before difficult winter months

Figures released today by NHS England reveal the number of cases on the waiting list for Trauma and Orthopaedic Treatment (T&O) surgery, such as knee and hip replacements, has fallen slightly for the first time in six months* but lack of significant progress leaves thousands in pain, warns Arthritis UK.   

Trauma and Orthopaedic waiting lists are the largest in the NHS with 860,865 cases waiting for treatment in September, falling from 866,426 in August. 

People with arthritis make up a large proportion waiting for life changing joint replacement surgery. 

Deborah Alsina MBE, Arthritis UK Chief Executive, said:  

“Winter pressures on health services mean conditions are now far more challenging for Trusts to make headway in bringing down waiting lists for elective procedures such as joint replacements. It is welcome to see a small reduction in September figures released today, but the six months prior saw a steady increase in case load at a time of year we should have seen rapid progress in driving these numbers down.

“Now the likelihood of government achieving its ambition to bring down T&O waiting lists looks incredibly doubtful with a hard winter on the horizon. We need to understand why, despite the commitment to tackle waiting lists, the figures show this isn’t translating to action. Thousands of people are being let down, tired of waiting in pain and their faith in change coming soon being sorely tested.  

“These operations are transformative, preventing a spiral of declining physical and mental health that also enable people to get back to work. Getting a grip on waiting lists is fundamental if the government is serious about addressing the health and wealth of the nation.” 

Mary Waterhouse, 73, from Blackpool who has osteoarthritis and spent many years on waiting lists, said she had given up:

“I’ve been on waiting lists for 3 and a half years. The arthritis has spread all over in this time. It rules every part of my life. I lost a lot of weight so I could have what I thought was one knee operated on. Because of waiting times, one knee became two knees, two hips, my ankle and my back. And then some of my weight came back on due to not being mobile at all. You just get to a point where you give up and never want to go near a hospital again. You get worse while waiting and bumping about from one waiting list to another.

“I’m currently not on any waiting lists for my arthritis. The arthritis has spread too much. I have decided to live with the pain. It’s like being in a never-ending queue.” 

Looking at all treatment functions over the same period, the waiting list has fallen by 2%, according to NHSE data. It is clear that despite the total waiting list decreasing, the T&O waiting list is not falling at the same rate.     

ENDS  

Notes to editors 
For more information, please contact the Arthritis UK press office on 0300 7900 456 or email: press@versusarthritis.org

*The T&O waiting lists had been increasing for 6 months before this drop in September. September’s figures mark the first fall since February 2025.

Background 

• The waiting list for routine orthopaedic treatment such as joint replacements have been steadily rising since 2013. Other European nations have managed to claw back progress since the pandemic, but the UK has failed to get a grip on the challenge.
• More than 10 million people in the UK have arthritis. That’s one in six people living with the pain, fatigue, immobility, and reduced dexterity it can cause. The impact is huge as these conditions can intrude on everyday life – affecting the ability to work, care for a family, to move free from pain and live independently.
• Musculoskeletal conditions like arthritis are the second most recorded reason for being off, or out of, work.  

Further reading and latest statistics can be found in our report The State of Musculoskeletal Health | Arthritis UK 

About Arthritis UK

Arthritis UK is the leading arthritis charity, changing lives through research, campaigning and support. 

Over 10 million adults, young people and children in the UK live with arthritis. That’s one in six of us living with the pain, fatigue, disability, mental and financial strain it can cause. Many more live with arthritis but remain undiagnosed, untreated and unsupported. 

We know the impact of arthritis can be huge, affecting the ability to work, care for family, move free from pain and live independently. Yet for a condition affecting so many, it’s poorly understood and far too little is done. That’s why we invest in life-changing research into better treatments, support people through the daily challenges of life with arthritis, and campaign on the issues that matter most to people living with it. 

At Arthritis UK, we won’t rest until everyone with arthritis has access to treatments and support they need to live the life they choose, with real hope for a cure in the future. Find out more at: www.arthritis-uk.org 

Arthritis UK. For a future free from arthritis.