ShortestWait

NHS waiting times for May 2023

At the end of May 2023, 7.50 million people in England were waiting for consultant-led treatment. Half had waited less than 14.2 weeks, and 59.5% had waited under 18 weeks.

England May 2023 vs Apr 2023 vs May 2022
People waiting7,504,357 +60,313 +840,425
Median wait (weeks)14.2 +0.3 +1.4
92% within (weeks)46.4 +0.4 +1.1
Within 18 weeks59.5% +1.2 pts −4.0 pts
Waiting over a year387,276 +13,990 +51,806

Biggest changes since April 2023

Change in each provider's median wait across all specialties, among the 271 providers with at least 1,000 patients waiting in both months.

Shorter waits

  1. Practice Plus Group Hospital - Plymouth −4.5 wks now 19.8
  2. The Westbourne Centre −4.2 wks now 17.9
  3. Duchy Hospital −3.8 wks now 19.9
  4. The Cherwell Hospital −3.7 wks now 19.4
  5. Goring Hall Hospital −3.5 wks now 17.7
  6. Circle Reading Hospital −2.9 wks now 10.3
  7. Park Hill Hospital −2.7 wks now 20.1
  8. Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - Gillingham −2.6 wks now 11.2
  9. Meriden Hospital −2.3 wks now 9.2
  10. Woodland Hospital −1.9 wks now 14.9

Longer waits

  1. Nuffield Health, Brentwood Hospital +2.6 wks now 12.4
  2. Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust +2.4 wks now 10.6
  3. Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust +2.1 wks now 15.6
  4. Spire Methley Park Hospital +1.9 wks now 17.4
  5. City Health Care Partnership Cic +1.7 wks now 13.1
  6. East Cheshire NHS Trust +1.7 wks now 15.3
  7. Somerset Surgical Services Hq +1.7 wks now 17.5
  8. Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust +1.6 wks now 16.8
  9. East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust +1.6 wks now 15.7
  10. Fairfield Hospital +1.5 wks now 11.9

England by specialty

SpecialtyWaitingMedian waitvs Apr 2023Within 18 weeks
General surgery 449,064 15.2 wks +0.2 57%
Urology 405,809 15.5 wks +0.7 56%
Orthopaedics 824,301 15.4 wks +0.1 56%
Ear, nose and throat 614,761 17.1 wks +0.3 52%
Ophthalmology (eyes) 649,480 12.1 wks +0.2 65%
Oral surgery 321,741 17.1 wks +0.4 52%
Neurosurgery 61,392 16.7 wks 0 53%
Plastic surgery 100,515 15.8 wks +0.2 55%
Cardiothoracic surgery 11,954 12.1 wks +0.6 66%
General medicine 48,750 12.4 wks +0.2 66%
Gastroenterology 386,617 14.6 wks +0.5 58%
Cardiology (heart) 382,491 13.0 wks +0.4 64%
Dermatology (skin) 376,907 13.2 wks −0.3 61%
Respiratory medicine 210,809 12.8 wks +0.6 65%
Neurology 228,285 14.9 wks +0.2 58%
Rheumatology 131,160 11.8 wks +0.5 68%
Elderly medicine 25,038 8.6 wks +0.3 81%
Gynaecology 587,807 15.9 wks +0.4 55%
Other medical specialties 608,627 11.7 wks +0.5 68%
Other mental health 21,852 11.5 wks +1.0 68%
Other paediatric specialties 418,485 14.2 wks +0.6 60%
Other surgical specialties 460,202 14.0 wks +0.2 59%
Other services 178,310 9.7 wks +0.5 73%

Reporting for the first time