ShortestWait

NHS waiting times for March 2021

At the end of March 2021, 4.97 million people in England were waiting for consultant-led treatment. Half had waited less than 11.6 weeks, and 64.4% had waited under 18 weeks.

England Mar 2021 vs Feb 2021 vs Mar 2020
People waiting4,972,325 +256,197 +719,900
Median wait (weeks)11.6 −1.0 +2.6
92% within (weeks)52+ 0 +25.5
Within 18 weeks64.4% −0.1 pts −15.3 pts
Waiting over a year437,324 +48,336 +434,074

Biggest changes since February 2021

Change in each provider's median wait across all specialties, among the 233 providers with at least 1,000 patients waiting in both months.

Shorter waits

  1. Spire Fylde Coast Hospital −7.4 wks now 22.1
  2. Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust −6.0 wks now 14.5
  3. Spire Liverpool Hospital −3.6 wks now 17.1
  4. Inhealth Limited −3.4 wks now 4.1
  5. Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust −3.1 wks now 11.7
  6. Kings Oak Hospital −3.0 wks now 7.0
  7. Sussex Community Dermatology Service −2.9 wks now 4.4
  8. Spamedica Wolverhampton −2.8 wks now 6.0
  9. Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust −2.7 wks now 7.5
  10. New Hall Hospital −2.6 wks now 7.9

Longer waits

  1. Euxton Hall Hospital +13.2 wks now 30.8
  2. The Yorkshire Clinic +9.2 wks now 30.9
  3. Spire Southampton Hospital +3.8 wks now 10.0
  4. Fulwood Hall Hospital +3.8 wks now 20.4
  5. Spire Gatwick Park Hospital +2.8 wks now 7.5
  6. Spire Manchester Hospital +2.7 wks now 9.1
  7. The Cherwell Hospital +2.7 wks now 19.7
  8. Spire Wellesley Hospital +2.6 wks now 9.8
  9. North West Cats - Inhealth Pathway Management Centre +2.5 wks now 8.4
  10. Spire Leeds Hospital +2.5 wks now 10.2

England by specialty

SpecialtyWaitingMedian waitvs Feb 2021Within 18 weeks
General surgery 407,137 13.8 wks 0 60%
Urology 280,279 13.1 wks −0.3 61%
Orthopaedics 626,291 17.4 wks +0.4 51%
Ear, nose and throat 385,938 16.4 wks −0.2 54%
Ophthalmology (eyes) 512,956 13.1 wks −0.7 61%
Oral surgery 181,535 15.0 wks −0.3 57%
Neurosurgery 43,740 14.3 wks 0 60%
Plastic surgery 68,683 16.9 wks +0.5 52%
Cardiothoracic surgery 10,268 12.2 wks −0.4 64%
General medicine 50,353 9.0 wks −1.1 76%
Gastroenterology 281,357 10.3 wks −0.9 71%
Cardiology (heart) 207,700 8.5 wks −1.5 77%
Dermatology (skin) 207,558 8.0 wks −2.4 73%
Respiratory medicine 101,274 8.4 wks −0.8 79%
Neurology 121,682 9.0 wks −1.3 75%
Rheumatology 87,807 8.5 wks −1.2 77%
Elderly medicine 15,884 6.6 wks −1.0 85%
Gynaecology 375,232 11.4 wks −0.8 65%
Other specialties (before April 2021) 1,006,651 9.1 wks −1.1 72%

Providers that did not report

These providers reported in February 2021 but not in March 2021. Usually this is a missed submission; sometimes a merger or a closed service.

Reporting for the first time