‘Ominous signs’ of winter pressures as NHS waiting list grows

• NHS waiting times for planned surgery are increasing earlier than usual, suggesting winter pressures may be more severe than anticipated this year
• Early warning signs indicate potential strain on NHS capacity that clinicians should prepare for in their service planning
• Doctors should anticipate higher patient backlogs and consider triage prioritisation strategies as demand on services intensifies

NHS winter pressures appear to be building already, with rises in waiting times for planned surgery.

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