Claim: There are 7.8 million people waiting for planned treatment on NHS waiting lists.
Fact-check: Widespread confusion over number of 'people' on NHS waiting lists - Full Fact
Verdict: this is not what nhs data shows. around 6.5 million people are waiting for 7.8 million courses of treatment in england, according to the latest figures, because some are waiting for more than one thing. we've not found nhs data for the total number of people waiting across the whole of the uk.
Organisation: Full Fact
Author: Leo Benedictus
Date published: 2023-11-28T00:00:00