THE shocking scale of the NHS waiting list crisis has led to patients across Britain routinely facing delays of more than 18 weeks for treatment, Labour warned yesterday.

The party said that record waiting times — beyond the 18-week maximum set out in the NHS constitution — are leaving patients in pain and at risk of permanent disability.

After a decade of austerity and amid unprecedented demand during the Covid-19 pandemic, the health service will not cope without an urgent rescue plan, Labour said.