Responding to the latest NHS performance figures, David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network said:

 “Today’s record NHS waiting list underlines the need for the new Health and Social Care Secretary to take urgent action to tackle the growing backlog of care and get a grip of the growing crisis in the NHS.

“With waiting times for care increasing every month, this is being felt not just by millions of patients who are suffering in pain as they wait ever longer for treatment, but also by businesses and employers across the country.

“Recent polling from IHPN found that one third (34%) of businesses have experienced rising sickness absences over the last 12 months, with over half of organisations (53%) concerned that the current rising NHS waiting times may result in employees taking long absences or permanently leaving work due to sickness.

“These figures make clear that the link between the health and wealth of the country can no longer be ignored, and the Government must now see tackling the NHS backlog as an economic, as well as health priority.”