ShortestWait

NHS waiting times for May 2020

At the end of May 2020, 3.87 million people in England were waiting for consultant-led treatment. Half had waited less than 15.3 weeks, and 62.2% had waited under 18 weeks.

England May 2020 vs Apr 2020 vs May 2019
People waiting3,867,607 −100,492 −534,688
Median wait (weeks)15.3 +3.1 +7.6
92% within (weeks)34.4 +3.7 +11.4
Within 18 weeks62.2% −9.1 pts −24.6 pts
Waiting over a year27,120 +15,729 +26,075

Biggest changes since April 2020

Change in each provider's median wait across all specialties, among the 197 providers with at least 1,000 patients waiting in both months.

Shorter waits

  1. Rivers Hospital −4.7 wks now 5.0
  2. Sussex Community Dermatology Service −1.4 wks now 7.9
  3. Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust −1.0 wks now 6.3
  4. South West London and St George'S Mental Health NHS Trust −1.0 wks now 6.5
  5. Cora Health MSK (Formerly Connect Health Ltd) −0.3 wks now 9.1

Longer waits

  1. Spire Liverpool Hospital +5.4 wks now 17.0
  2. Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust +5.0 wks now 16.3
  3. Fitzwilliam Hospital +4.8 wks now 16.7
  4. London Independent Hospital +4.4 wks now 18.7
  5. Spire Fylde Coast Hospital +4.3 wks now 19.0
  6. West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust +4.3 wks now 16.4
  7. Practice Plus Group Hospital - Emersons Green +4.2 wks now 16.4
  8. Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust +4.2 wks now 14.4
  9. Woodlands Hospital +4.1 wks now 17.2
  10. Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - Devizes +4.1 wks now 15.9

England by specialty

SpecialtyWaitingMedian waitvs Apr 2020Within 18 weeks
General surgery 285,964 15.4 wks +2.7 61%
Urology 209,857 14.8 wks +2.7 63%
Orthopaedics 463,351 17.3 wks +3.5 53%
Ear, nose and throat 294,441 16.5 wks +3.4 57%
Ophthalmology (eyes) 412,607 16.4 wks +3.8 58%
Oral surgery 161,459 17.5 wks +3.8 53%
Neurosurgery 34,043 15.9 wks +2.9 58%
Plastic surgery 54,776 17.0 wks +3.1 54%
Cardiothoracic surgery 8,695 14.4 wks +2.8 64%
General medicine 39,887 13.0 wks +2.3 74%
Gastroenterology 198,036 13.4 wks +2.3 71%
Cardiology (heart) 176,751 14.1 wks +2.5 69%
Dermatology (skin) 179,884 14.9 wks +2.8 64%
Respiratory medicine 96,559 14.1 wks +2.7 70%
Neurology 112,847 14.9 wks +2.6 64%
Rheumatology 76,850 14.3 wks +3.0 69%
Elderly medicine 13,672 12.5 wks +2.8 81%
Gynaecology 261,394 14.9 wks +3.0 64%
Other specialties (before April 2021) 786,534 14.1 wks +2.8 67%

Providers that did not report

These providers reported in April 2020 but not in May 2020. Usually this is a missed submission; sometimes a merger or a closed service.