Find the shortest wait for your hospital treatment
Official NHS England waiting times for every hospital and specialty in England, ranked so you can see where patients are seen soonest. Latest figures: patients waiting at the end of August 2026. What changed this month.
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- People on the waiting list
- 7.19 million
- Typical (median) wait
- 12.2 weeks
- Waiting under 18 weeks
- 65%
Choose a specialty
Waiting times are published by specialty, not by individual operation. A knee replacement, for example, is counted under orthopaedics.
- General surgery
- Urology
- Orthopaedics
- Ear, nose and throat
- Ophthalmology (eyes)
- Oral surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Plastic surgery
- Cardiothoracic surgery
- General medicine
- Gastroenterology
- Cardiology (heart)
- Dermatology (skin)
- Respiratory medicine
- Neurology
- Rheumatology
- Elderly medicine
- Gynaecology
- Other medical specialties
- Other mental health
- Other paediatric specialties
- Other surgical specialties
- Other services
Shortest waits for orthopaedics
England median 13.9 weeks. Providers with at least 50 patients waiting.
| # | Hospital or provider | Waiting | Median wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust NHS Midlands | 52 | 2.4 wks |
| 2 | Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust NHS South West | 93 | 3.5 wks |
| 3 | Epsomedical Group Independent 3 sites South East | 58 | 3.8 wks |
| 4 | Princess Margaret Hospital Independent South East | 52 | 4.0 wks |
| 5 | Clementine Churchill Hospital Independent London | 674 | 5.1 wks |
Shortest waits for ophthalmology (eyes)
England median 10.4 weeks. Providers with at least 50 patients waiting.
| # | Hospital or provider | Waiting | Median wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Practice Plus Group Hospital - Southampton Independent South East | 178 | 3.2 wks |
| 2 | Norwich & Norfolk Surgical Ltd (N2s) Independent East of England | 425 | 3.4 wks |
| 3 | Spamedica Bedford Independent East of England | 235 | 3.7 wks |
| 4 | Spamedica Wokingham Independent South East | 198 | 3.9 wks |
| 5 | Spamedica Bexhill Independent South East | 235 | 3.9 wks |
Shortest waits for general surgery
England median 12.8 weeks. Providers with at least 50 patients waiting.
| # | Hospital or provider | Waiting | Median wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust NHS South West | 778 | 2.5 wks |
| 2 | Dorking Healthcare Limited (Dhc) Independent 14 sites South East | 111 | 3.7 wks |
| 3 | Huddersfield Private Hospital Independent North East and Yorkshire | 192 | 4.3 wks |
| 4 | Independent Health Group Independent 44 sites South West | 332 | 4.5 wks |
| 5 | Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - St Marys Portsmouth Independent South East | 409 | 4.7 wks |
How to read these figures
- Median wait is the typical wait: half of the patients still waiting had waited less than this.
- 92% within is the time within which 92 in every 100 patients had been waiting. It shows how long the longest waits are.
- Waits run from referral to the start of consultant-led treatment. Urgent and suspected cancer referrals are prioritised and follow different pathways.
- In England you can usually choose where you are referred, including to independent hospitals that treat NHS patients. Ask your GP about your options.