A line chart from the Institute for Government showing Average monthly additions to the elective waiting list, actual, pre-pandemic trend and including diverted referrals, September 2016 to August 2025, where additions to the waiting list were gradually rising until the pandemic hit. Additions fell rapidly from 1.7m in March 2020 to a low of 1.1m in February 2021. They have since risen and stabilised but have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. Including diverted referrals, the average monthly additions are on-trend with pre-pandemic levels.