Every health target is improving

The previous Labour Government abolished almost all the health targets, did a distarous mega-merger during a pandemic, and outcomes in the health sector fell across the board. The health sector is still under great strain, but the data shows that there has been considerable improvement in all five target areas. This is the latest data to June 2026.

Those getting cancer treatment within a month fell from 90% to 84% under Labour. It is now halfway back to the 90% target at 87%. In real terms that means 600 more people a year with cancer got to start treatment within a month.

The child immunisation rate dropped to 71%. At the change of government it was 77% and it is now up to 84%. In real terms that is 3,000 more children a year vaccinated.

This has been one of the hardest ones to turn around. It started dropping well before Covid-19. It fell to 67%. It is now at 76%. That is 120,000 more ED patients who got dealt with in under six hours.

Another one that fell away prior to Covid-19. Has been stubborn at around 60% but is now at 67%, In real terms that’s almost 15,000 more people who got to see a specialist within four months.

Around a 15 percentage point increase in those who get elective surgery or treatment within four months. This is around 11,000 more patients who got elective surgery in the last year within four months.