More than a million emergency hospital admissions were 'lost' to the coronavirus pandemic, according to official data.
There were 5.45million emergency procedures carried out across all NHS England services in the 12 months to March, down 16 per cent on the 6.5m the previous year.
The NHS Digital statistics, published today, include admissions for accident and emergency, mental health, maternity and even dental patients.
Figures also show there were 3.2m fewer elective surgeries in the same period, with 5.6m coming in for care during the pandemic compared to 8.8m pre-Covid.
Patients were left struggling to access care through repeated lockdowns as the health service turned its attention to Covid.
Many were also reluctant to come forward for fear of being a burden on the NHS or catching the virus.
There is mounting pressure on the NHS to start chopping down record waiting lists that have amassed during the pandemic, now that Covid vaccines have largely broken the link between infections and severe illness.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid warned today that the UK faces 'two backlogs' — the waiting list for routine operations and 'a social backlog in mental health and public health'.
He said: 'Passing the peak of the pandemic has been a bit like a receding tide, revealing the underlying health of our nation.'
There were 5.45million emergency procedures carried out across all NHS England services in the 12 months to March, down 16 per cent on the 6.5m the previous year
The number of patients waiting for routine hospital treatment hit 5.6million in July, the highest figure since records began in 2007. And health chiefs have warned the backlog is going to get much worse before it gets better, with projections that it could soar up to 13million by the end of the year if no action is taken
Patients forced to wait more than 18 weeks for routine surgery - the maximum time someone should wait under the NHS's own rules - reached 1.7million in July, the highest level in four months
Some 293,000 people had been waiting more than a year for treatment on the NHS by July this year, figures showed. This was down slightly on last month when there were 304,803 people on the list, but still almost three times the same levels last year. The list has surged after the pandemic forced hospitals to turn over whole wards to fighting the virus
An NHS spokesperson said: 'The NHS provided emergency treatment for well over five million people last year, at the same time as caring for 450,000 patients with Covid-19, rolling out a world-leading vaccination programme and continuing routine care as far as possible, including performing millions of diagnostic tests and treating thousands of patients with cancer.
'Some people were reluctant to come forward for help during the pandemic but the NHS message remains clear - anyone who needs care should come forward - contact NHS 111 Online so that staff can help you find the best option for your care, or call 999 in an emergency.'
New estimates today show that Covid vaccinations have directly averted about 230,800 hospital admissions in England.
Some 178,900 admissions have been prevented among those aged 65 years and over, with a further 51,900 among people aged 45 to 64.
The estimates, which have been calculated by Public Health England and Cambridge University, cover the period up to September 5.
A total of 89 per cent of all people aged 16 and over in England have now received one dose of vaccine, while 81 per cent are fully vaccinated.
