Responding to a Healthwatch report about health inequalities and waiting lists, the director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers Miriam Deakin said:

"Healthwatch's report is a timely reminder that we must focus on inequalities as we tackle care backlogs.

"Trusts are committed to addressing unfair, avoidable differences in people's access to and experiences of health services. They are working flat out to bring down waiting lists while joining forces with partners across the health system to ensure that those waiting for care are supported to wait well.

"The pandemic widened the health inequalities gap faced by disadvantaged communities and now the cost of living crisis is making things even worse for the most deprived. Ethnic minorities, people from more deprived communities and disabled people experience structural inequalities which lead to worse health outcomes.

"Everyone in the NHS must address inequalities where we find them. It's vital that NHS England and NHS Improvement continues to champion this and that the government's white paper on health disparities focuses on joined-up action to address the factors which lead to health inequalities and poor health."