A London doctor has described the NHS as ‘hitting rock bottom’, as the number of people in England on NHS waiting lists for pre-planned care hit a record 6.1 million this year.

Before coronavirus hit the UK, the number of people waiting for planned treatment was already at 4.2 million.

Press Association figures show a patient in England has waited almost six years for hospital care and dozens have waited for more than three years.

In response, the NHS has planned new measures to try and tackle the backlog, including sending people home the same day they receive treatments like hip replacement surgery, and setting up mobile scanners in supermarket car parks.

Dr Sonia Adesara works as a GP in the capital, and explains how patients are struggling with the long waiting times, how the backlog is affecting doctors, and why a staffing crisis in the NHS needs to be addressed.

In this episode:

• Dr Adesara's reaction to the 6.1million waiting list record (1.13)
• How patients are coping with the long waiting times (2.14)
• What impact the backlog is having on doctors and GPs (3.28)
• Will the NHS's new measures be effective? (4.30)
• Will the government spend money wisely to help the NHS? (6.04)
• Are you confident action will be taken to better support the NHS? (7.03)
• How the NHS is struggling in other areas (7.45)

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