NHS waiting lists in England could double in the coming months according to new Health Secretary Sajid Javid.
Around 5.3 million people are waiting for routine operations and procedures in England.
Sajid Javid has said was “shocked” when officials warned him that the backlog could reach 13 million patients.
Javid, who became health secretary two weeks ago after his predecessor Matt Hancock resigned following an apology for breaking social-distancing rules, said waiting lists were his priority.
“What shocked me the most is when I was told that the waiting list is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.
It’s gone up from 3.5 million to 5.3 million as of today, and I said to the officials, so what do you mean ‘a lot worse’, thinking maybe it goes from 5.3 million to six million, seven million. They said no, it’s going to go up by millions… it could go as high as 13 million.
Hearing that figure of 13 million, it has absolutely focused my mind, and it’s going to be one of my top priorities to deal with because we can’t have that.”
Javid also said one of the solutions is to pay the private sector to pick up the slack.
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