Thousands of patients in England at risk as GP referrals vanish into NHS ‘black hole’

Exclusive: Watchdog finds 14% of cases not put on hospital waiting lists, with many reporting worsening health and rising anxiety

One in seven people in England who need hospital care are not receiving it because their GP referral is lost, rejected or delayed, the NHS's patient watchdog has found.

Three-quarters (75%) of those trapped in this referrals black hole" suffer harm to their physical or mental health as a result of not being added to the waiting list for tests or treatment.