Dire predictions weeks ago said NHS waiting lists were set to soar as high as 10 million by April. While the latest figures are less than half that number and seem to suggest NHS waiting lists won’t peak at anywhere near that, could the backlog of referrals lead to another substantial rise in the coming weeks and months?

According to data from the Reform think tank, waiting lists for NHS treatment in England could hit ten million by April. Officials have said NHS waiting lists could more than double over the coming weeks. New referrals are expected to add to the existing pressures on the health service and creating ever-growing waiting lists.

Against a backdrop of increasing COVID-19 cases, the NHS is preparing for a "triple whammy" this winter according to an NHS Confederation report. The report states the NHS is facing stress due to:

The continuing rise in COVID-19 cases. A backlog in treatment due to postponements earlier in 2020. Reduced capacity, as a direct result of measures put in place to reduce the infection rate.