There are 6 million people on the waiting list for elective care.36 NHSE&I told us it intends to focus on those with the highest clinical need and priority, and especially in the immediate period, those who have waited the longest time. For long-waiters, NHSE&I stated that its plan for this year would target for treatment those who have waited over two years. Over time, it would target 78-week waiters and then the 52-week waiters.37