ShortestWait

NHS waiting times for December 2021

At the end of December 2021, 6.09 million people in England were waiting for consultant-led treatment. Half had waited less than 12.5 weeks, and 63.8% had waited under 18 weeks.

England Dec 2021 vs Nov 2021 vs Dec 2020
People waiting6,091,652 +69,951 +1,552,456
Median wait (weeks)12.5 +1.0 +1.3
92% within (weeks)43.5 +0.6 −3.9
Within 18 weeks63.8% −1.7 pts −4.0 pts
Waiting over a year312,478 +3,767 +87,675

Biggest changes since November 2021

Change in each provider's median wait across all specialties, among the 260 providers with at least 1,000 patients waiting in both months.

Shorter waits

  1. Primary Integrated Community Services Ltd −8.8 wks now 7.9
  2. Nuffield Health, Leeds Hospital −3.6 wks now 17.0
  3. Spire Bristol Hospital −2.9 wks now 20.9
  4. Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust −2.7 wks now 18.3
  5. Rivers Hospital −1.6 wks now 6.9
  6. Woodthorpe Hospital −1.3 wks now 6.5
  7. Spire Leeds Hospital −1.0 wks now 12.8
  8. Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust −0.7 wks now 12.3
  9. Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust −0.2 wks now 8.0
  10. Pinehill Hospital −0.2 wks now 7.7

Longer waits

  1. Spencer Private Hospitals Ltd +3.3 wks now 21.5
  2. Oaklands Hospital +3.2 wks now 11.4
  3. Droitwich Spa Hospital +3.1 wks now 17.8
  4. Springfield Hospital +3.1 wks now 12.9
  5. Cobalt Hospital +2.9 wks now 6.3
  6. Southend Private Hospital +2.8 wks now 20.4
  7. Highfield Hospital +2.6 wks now 14.3
  8. Mount Stuart Hospital +2.5 wks now 17.9
  9. Beaumont Hospital +2.5 wks now 12.6
  10. Alexandra Hospital +2.5 wks now 12.7

England by specialty

SpecialtyWaitingMedian waitvs Nov 2021Within 18 weeks
General surgery 410,419 14.2 wks +1.0 59%
Urology 335,678 13.4 wks +0.9 61%
Orthopaedics 707,205 14.4 wks +0.9 58%
Ear, nose and throat 467,257 15.6 wks +0.4 55%
Ophthalmology (eyes) 603,767 12.3 wks +1.0 64%
Oral surgery 250,261 15.5 wks +0.7 55%
Neurosurgery 51,974 15.0 wks +0.9 57%
Plastic surgery 85,248 15.1 wks +1.2 56%
Cardiothoracic surgery 11,654 11.9 wks +0.8 65%
General medicine 45,914 10.1 wks +0.8 75%
Gastroenterology 331,931 12.6 wks +0.8 64%
Cardiology (heart) 280,391 10.9 wks +0.9 72%
Dermatology (skin) 303,384 12.3 wks +1.6 65%
Respiratory medicine 140,801 9.8 wks +0.7 75%
Neurology 176,307 12.3 wks +1.3 66%
Rheumatology 109,673 11.0 wks +0.9 70%
Elderly medicine 21,601 7.7 wks +0.9 85%
Gynaecology 448,047 13.3 wks +1.0 62%
Other medical specialties 446,578 9.5 wks +0.7 75%
Other mental health 16,071 8.1 wks +1.1 80%
Other paediatric specialties 311,593 11.4 wks +0.9 68%
Other surgical specialties 376,235 11.9 wks +1.2 64%
Other services 159,663 8.6 wks +0.8 78%