Serious illness patients are left untreated as the NHS misses targets to clear the Covid backlog

HOSPITALS will miss targets for clearing Covid backlog due to staff shortages, NHS bosses warn.

A survey shows that around 98 percent of managers say patients will suffer even longer because of crippling job openings.

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It comes despite a 1.25 percentage point increase in National Insurance from next month to raise £12billion a year to help close the backlog.

More than 6.1 million are on the waiting list – up from 4.4 million during the pandemic.

Health Minister Sajid Javid wants to have the number under control by 2024.

But NHS Providers, who conducted the survey, say there are 110,000 NHS job vacancies.

Executive vice chairman Saffron Cordery says it means employees are trying to cut the backlog with “one hand tied behind their back”.

Over 100 health groups have written to No10 to urge MPs to accept legislation that would force the Government to disclose the staffing numbers the NHS needs to meet future demand.

Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said it would likely be denied tomorrow.

He added: “This is reckless and short-sighted. After three lockdowns to protect NHS capacity, it is certainly time to resolve the staffing crisis.”