Record number for treatment

A record number of sick and ill people are waiting for hospital treatment because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to new figures.

The NHS England figuresshow a total of 4.46 million people were waiting to start hospital treatment at the end of November 2020 – the highest number since records began.

This compares with 4.42 min November 2019 and 4.45 min October that year - the previous highest number in the data.

Prof Neil Mortensen, president of the Royal Collegeof Surgeons of England, said: "These figures show the calamitous impact of Covid-19 on wait times for operations.

"For thousands of people,a corrective operation is the best way to relieve pain and get them back up on their feet, back to work and enjoying life again.”