ShortestWait

NHS waiting times for January 2024

At the end of January 2024, 7.61 million people in England were waiting for consultant-led treatment. Half had waited less than 15.1 weeks, and 57.0% had waited under 18 weeks.

England Jan 2024 vs Dec 2023 vs Jan 2023
People waiting7,605,708 −31,565 +365,570
Median wait (weeks)15.1 +0.1 +0.4
92% within (weeks)45.3 +0.1 −1.3
Within 18 weeks57.0% +0.5 pts −1.3 pts
Waiting over a year323,471 −16,759 −57,937

Biggest changes since December 2023

Change in each provider's median wait across all specialties, among the 269 providers with at least 1,000 patients waiting in both months.

Shorter waits

  1. Manchester Surgical Services Ltd −9.0 wks now 38.7
  2. Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust −6.7 wks now 17.2
  3. Duchy Hospital −4.9 wks now 17.3
  4. Vcl Wiltshire Childrens Services −3.1 wks now 19.6
  5. Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - Gillingham −3.1 wks now 8.0
  6. The Westbourne Centre −3.0 wks now 6.6
  7. Cobalt Hospital −2.8 wks now 9.5
  8. Nuffield Health, Derby Hospital −2.7 wks now 16.5
  9. Claremont Private Hospital −2.3 wks now 11.8
  10. Sussex Community Dermatology Service −2.1 wks now 7.0

Longer waits

  1. Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust +3.1 wks now 27.0
  2. Practice Plus Group Hospital - Ilford +2.2 wks now 18.3
  3. Phoenix Health Solutions Limited Hq +1.9 wks now 12.7
  4. Spire Alexandra Hospital +1.5 wks now 8.6
  5. Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust +1.5 wks now 15.3
  6. Spencer Private Hospitals Ltd +1.4 wks now 16.1
  7. Whittington Health NHS Trust +1.3 wks now 12.5
  8. Dmc Healthcare +1.2 wks now 4.9
  9. Benenden Hospital +1.2 wks now 11.7
  10. Nuffield Health, North Staffordshire Hospital +1.2 wks now 21.0

England by specialty

SpecialtyWaitingMedian waitvs Dec 2023Within 18 weeks
General surgery 424,738 15.8 wks 0 55%
Urology 414,941 15.0 wks +0.2 57%
Orthopaedics 857,193 16.2 wks +0.2 54%
Ear, nose and throat 622,401 18.8 wks −0.6 48%
Ophthalmology (eyes) 607,575 12.6 wks +0.1 64%
Oral surgery 324,342 18.2 wks −0.5 49%
Neurosurgery 61,985 16.2 wks −0.3 54%
Plastic surgery 108,683 17.3 wks +0.2 51%
Cardiothoracic surgery 9,922 12.2 wks +0.2 64%
General medicine 42,295 12.2 wks −0.2 66%
Gastroenterology 385,075 14.1 wks −0.1 59%
Cardiology (heart) 399,857 14.1 wks 0 60%
Dermatology (skin) 409,179 15.0 wks +0.2 57%
Respiratory medicine 222,444 13.5 wks −0.3 61%
Neurology 237,578 16.5 wks +0.2 53%
Rheumatology 124,769 12.9 wks +0.2 64%
Elderly medicine 25,377 9.2 wks +0.2 77%
Gynaecology 592,409 16.9 wks −0.1 52%
Other medical specialties 634,003 12.6 wks −0.1 64%
Other mental health 12,448 10.5 wks +0.6 68%
Other paediatric specialties 413,911 15.2 wks −0.3 56%
Other surgical specialties 494,956 14.8 wks +0.1 57%
Other services 179,627 10.7 wks +0.2 70%