ShortestWait

Ophthalmology (eyes) waiting times in Essex

East of EnglandAugust 2026 figures

Across Essex, 28,475 patients were waiting for ophthalmology (eyes) treatment at the end of August 2026. Half had waited less than 12.2 weeks, against 10.4 weeks across England.

Area median wait
12.2 weeks
92% waiting less than
38.8 weeks
Waiting under 18 weeks
64%
Ranked providers
9

Hospitals in Essex ranked by median wait

# Hospital or provider Waiting Median wait 92% within Within 18 weeks vs 3 months ago
1 Spamedica Colchester Independent East of England 194 5.1 wks 21.8 wks 89% 1.7 weeks longer
2 Spamedica Chelmsford Independent East of England 714 5.8 wks 19.7 wks 90% 1.1 weeks shorter
3 Optegra Eye Hospital Colchester Independent East of England 273 6.4 wks 17.8 wks 92% 1.3 weeks shorter
4 ACES Chelmsford Independent East of England 104 7.3 wks 16.9 wks 92% 1.2 weeks longer
5 Nuffield Health the Holly Hospital Independent East of England 178 7.4 wks 22.3 wks 88% 0.8 weeks shorter
6 Southend Private Hospital Independent East of England 1,103 8.7 wks 23.0 wks 81% 0.5 weeks shorter
7 The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust NHS East of England 3,029 11.3 wks 36.7 wks 70% 0.6 weeks shorter
8 East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust NHS East of England 9,222 12.4 wks 35.6 wks 64% 0.3 weeks longer
9 Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust NHS East of England 13,629 14.2 wks 43.3 wks 59% 0.2 weeks shorter

Patients often travel across area boundaries. See every ophthalmology (eyes) provider in England, or search by postcode below.

Area median wait over two years

  • Essex
  • England
Essex: median wait in weeks, Sep 2024 to Aug 2026The median wait fell from 14.1 weeks to 12.2 weeks between September 2024 and August 2026.05101520Feb 2025Aug 2025Feb 2026Aug 202612.2 wks10.4 wks
Show the figures
MonthEssexEngland
August 202612.210.4
July 202612.510.2
June 202611.99.9
May 202612.210.2
April 202611.29.7
March 202610.69.1
February 202612.710.9
January 202613.811.4
December 202513.910.9
November 202512.710
October 202512.610.2
September 202512.310.5
August 20251210.6
July 202512.010.3
June 202512.210.3
May 202512.110.6
April 202512.110.2
March 202511.49.9
February 202512.611.3
January 202512.911.7
December 202412.411.5
November 202412.111
October 20241411.5
September 202414.111.9

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We only use the first half of your postcode (for example OX3), and we don't store it. If you use your location, we round it to about 1 km, use it once to find your postcode area, and don't store it.