The warning comes as NHSE figures revealed a second consecutive rise in waiting times.

Professor Frank Smith, vice president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: ‘Today's figures highlight a system struggling to meet demand. Too few operating theatres and crumbling hospital buildings are leading surgeons to have to compete for space, directly contributing to delays and leaving patients waiting for the care they need.

‘Modernising NHS infrastructure must be a Government priority. The chancellor must commit substantial capital funding for the NHS in the upcoming Autumn Budget.'

NHS England warned in August the NHS was not on track to ensure 65% of elective patients are treated within 18 weeks and to reduce 52-week waiters to 1% of the overall waiting list, by March 2026. Figures for July show that 61.3% of patients began treatment within 18 weeks with 191,648 patients were waiting more than 52 weeks, 2.6% of the total waiting list.

This follows reports earlier in September that some ICBs have set minimum waits over 18 weeks, a development RCS England called ‘deeply concerning' and a ‘symptom of the NHS system under severe strain'.