Claim: 12 million people are on waiting lists for operations and treatment because the NHS is too busy testing healthy people with no symptoms for Covid-19.
Fact-check: Covid testing hasn't left 12 million on NHS waiting lists - Full Fact
Verdict: the current waiting list is 5.5 million, and this is anticipated to rise, with some estimates up to 12.2 million. there are a number of factors contributing to the size of the waiting list. much of the covid-19 testing happens outside of the nhs.
Organisation: Full Fact
Author: Daniella De Block Golding
Date published: 2021-08-20T00:00:00