My Medical Gateway Blog

Over half of NHS England’s non-urgent waiting list is made up of working-age adults, with women and deprived communities facing the longest delays – especially in gynaecology. My Medical Gateway offers fast, affordable treatment in trusted EU clinics, helping patients bypass NHS backlogs and regain control of their health and wellbeing.

For millions of UK patients stuck on NHS waiting lists, the delay is not just an inconvenience – it’s a daily hardship. But a new analysis of NHS England data has revealed a deeper, more troubling picture: inequality is baked into the backlog, with working-age women, poorer communities and ethnic minority patients disproportionately affected.

According to NHS England’s first in-depth review of elective care backlogs, 56% of those waiting for non-urgent treatment are aged 19 to 64 – in other words, people in their most economically productive years. Many of these individuals are unable to work, provide care, or live without pain because of treatment delays that now stretch beyond 18 weeks for millions, and beyond 12 months for hundreds of thousands.

The analysis found that gynaecological care has the longest queues among this age group, and that women make up 57% of all patients waiting for treatment where gender is recorded. For women over 18, the delay is often both painful and invisible, particularly when it comes to conditions like fibroids, endometriosis, or pelvic floor disorders – problems that are not immediately life-threatening but can profoundly disrupt daily life.

The Toll of Inequality

The disparities aren’t just gender-based. The report also found that patients from the most deprived areas of England were more likely to experience long delays, with 3.1% waiting over a year for treatment, compared to 2.7% in the least deprived areas. People from Asian or Asian British backgrounds were also more likely to exceed the 18-week treatment target.

These figures confirm what many clinicians and patients have long suspected: not all NHS waiting lists are created equal. Where you live, what you earn, your ethnicity and your gender all shape your access to timely care. As Professor Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, noted: “Women in the most deprived areas face some of the longest waits, threatening to entrench existing health inequalities.”

The consequences go far beyond inconvenience. Delays can mean more complicated treatments, higher costs to the NHS, and deeper personal suffering. In gynaecology, as with other specialities, late care often becomes intensive care – and the pressure falls hardest on those least able to afford private alternatives.

A System Struggling to Cope

The Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has said “sunlight is the best disinfectant,” promising to tackle the inequalities revealed in the data through a 10-year health plan that includes neighbourhood health centres and targeted investment in poorer communities.

These are welcome initiatives. But the scale of the challenge means that meaningful change will take years to materialise. In the meantime, patients – especially working-age women – are left waiting in pain, often unable to work or care for family, with no clear timeline for when relief will come.

The backlog in gynaecology is particularly severe because the field has historically been under-prioritised, despite affecting millions. Between 2018 and 2023, the number of women waiting for gynaecological procedures in England more than doubled, and while some progress is being made, demand continues to outstrip supply.

How My Medical Gateway Can Help

At My Medical Gateway, we believe no one should be left in pain due to postcode or system delays. That’s why we’ve built a secure, affordable pathway for UK patients to access timely private care in Europe, especially in areas like gynaecology where waiting times are longest.

Our partner clinics in the European Union offer:

• Short waiting times – often just 2 to 4 weeks
• World-class facilities and specialists, with English-speaking care teams
• Fully itemised, fixed-price treatment packages that are up to 50% less than equivalent UK private costs
• Remote diagnosis and post-treatment remote check-ups
• Automated onboarding and assistance with logistics and documentation
• Access to secure Adyen payments, Klarna finance and dedicated travel insurance

For many patients, particularly women in their 30s to 50s facing delayed procedures like hysteroscopies, endometrial ablations or laparoscopic surgeries, medical travel is no longer a luxury – it’s a lifeline.

Restoring Dignity and Control

The inequalities laid bare by the NHS’s own figures show how urgently alternative solutions are needed. While the government’s long-term reforms are important, patients can’t afford to wait five or ten years for fairer access to care.

With My Medical Gateway, you don’t have to. We help restore control, choice, and dignity to patients who have been asked to wait too long, with too little explanation.

If you or someone you know is stuck on an NHS waiting list for a non-urgent but life-disrupting condition, we’re here to help. Visit our site, browse treatment options, or speak to one of our medical travel advisors on 0161 9600 700 for a confidential conversation about your next steps.