The NHS waiting list for treatment has fallen again, official data shows.
In January, the waiting list in England fell by 43,000, the third month in a row that it had come down.
There are now an estimated 7.25 million treatments waiting to be carried out, the lowest level since February 2023, when it stood at 7.22 million.
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NHS England said the drop had come despite the NHS seeing its busiest winter on record.
At the same time, ambulance response times were at their fastest in five years, and A&E waits were at their shortest in four years.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “After years of rising waiting times, patients are finally starting to see things move in the right direction – with waiting lists at their lowest level for almost three years and more people getting treated within 18 weeks.
“Despite record demand this winter, A&E and ambulance services improved – meaning patients are getting help faster when they need it most, thanks to the hard work of NHS staff, better planning and modernisation.
“But we won’t take our foot off the gas. We’ll keep cutting waiting times, backing NHS staff and making sure patients get the high-quality care they deserve.”
NHS national medical director Professor Meghana Pandit said: “The NHS was ready to tackle winter head on this year, which is why despite facing record-breaking demand, staff have delivered the shortest winter waiting times for four years – while waiting lists have continued to fall.
“This is proof that the NHS is starting to turn a corner for patients – but we know the job is far from done.
“For too long, too many patients have faced the indignity of being treated in hospital corridors. That’s why we’re taking a zero-tolerance approach – with hospital leaders out on the wards and corridors making sure patients are treated with the dignity they deserve.
“I also want to thank the public for their role in supporting the NHS this winter – these figures show the huge impact of the public getting vital winter jabs.”