NHS trusts are being asked to use the data to understand and reduce inequalities faced by patients.

Patients in the poorest communities and those from Asian or Asian British backgrounds are more likely to wait longer than 18 weeks than any other group, the report says.

Some 3.1% of patients living in the most deprived areas were waiting more than 12 months to begin treatment at the end of June compared to 2.7% in the least deprived.

Figures show, external:

  • 56% of the overall waiting list is made up of people aged 19 to 64

  • a third of those waiting are aged 65 and over

  • among over 65s, ophthalmology has the greatest backlog

  • women are more likely to be waiting over 18 weeks for treatment than men

  • women are also more likely than men to wait for more than 52 weeks

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: “Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Only by being upfront and shining a light on inequalities can we begin to tackle the problem.”

He added that the recently announced 10 year health plan would tackle health inequalities by diverting billions of pounds to working class communities, and provide targeted care to all patients where they live, via a neighbourhood health service.

These centres will be rolled out first in places where healthy life expectancy is lowest, including deindustrialised cities and coastal towns.