A small multiples chart from the Institute for Government showing NHS hospital performance vs targets, January 2011 to August 2025. Across all four measures (A&E 4-hour waits, elective 18-week waits, cancer 2-month waits, and diagnostic 6-week waits) performance has steadily worsened since the mid-2010s. The A&E target began slipping in 2015 and remains far below the 95% target, while the 18-week elective target fell sharply during COVID-19 and has not recovered. Cancer treatment waits have dropped from around 85% in 2015 to roughly 60% in 2025, and diagnostic waits remain well below the 99% target.