Conclusion 14

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of patients on waiting lists for non- urgent treatment continued to rise, from 3.85 million in 2017–18 to 4.23 million in 2018– 19.29 As a response to the pandemic, elective (non-urgent) treatment was suspended to focus on releasing beds for patients with COVID-19, although NHSE&I emphasised that it intended to maintain access to cancer services and A&E.30 However, the NHS has seen reduced numbers of cancer referrals and people with urgent needs accessing emergency services. NHSE&I confirmed that A&E admissions fell to about 56% of what would normally be expected but had since picked up and now stood at about 80%. NHSE&I told us that it launched a campaign to ensure patients were aware that emergency services had remained open and have observed an increase in the number of people using emergency services.31