WAITING lists at hospitals in Coventry and Rugby have fallen by thousands since the 2024 general election, according to new NHS data.
Waiting lists at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust have dropped by 3,632 since the general election – despite record demand for NHS services in 2025.
Across England, waiting lists fell by more than 86,000 in November alone – the second biggest monthly drop in 15 years. Overall, waiting lists are now down by more than 312,000 since Labour came into office.
The government’s Elective Reform Plan has invested in expanded evening and weekend clinics, new and expanded community diagnostic centres and surgical hubs, and reforms to reduce unnecessary appointments by sending patients straight to test.
Taiwo Owatemi, Labour MP for Coventry North West, said: “There is no hiding the fact that the UHCW Trust faced real challenges earlier in the year, with performance figures falling far short of where patients and staff would rightly want it to be.
“Since then, NHS workers and hospital staff at UHCW have been working incredibly hard under sustained pressure to turn things around. A fall of more than 3,600 on the waiting list since the election is a genuinely positive step, and a real credit to their dedication and professionalism.
“While services continue to face record demand, the figures show that progress is being made. I will continue to work closely with UHCW, NHS leaders, and local partners to make sure these improvements are sustained and that patients in Coventry see the better care they deserve.”
Ms Owatemi also warned that winter pressures remained significant, with hospitals continuing to manage flu and seasonal illness, and urged anyone eligible in Coventry to take up a flu vaccination to protect themselves and others.
