ShortestWait

NHS waiting times for May 2024

At the end of May 2024, 7.63 million people in England were waiting for consultant-led treatment. Half had waited less than 14.2 weeks, and 59.1% had waited under 18 weeks.

England May 2024 vs Apr 2024 vs May 2023
People waiting7,631,739 +31,284 +127,382
Median wait (weeks)14.2 +0.3 +0.1
92% within (weeks)45.0 +0.2 −1.4
Within 18 weeks59.1% +0.8 pts −0.4 pts
Waiting over a year309,808 +5,078 −77,468

Biggest changes since April 2024

Change in each provider's median wait across all specialties, among the 246 providers with at least 1,000 patients waiting in both months.

Shorter waits

  1. Mount Stuart Hospital −1.9 wks now 18.6
  2. James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust −1.8 wks now 18.6
  3. Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust −1.5 wks now 16.4
  4. Liverpool Women'S NHS Foundation Trust −1.3 wks now 19.5
  5. Kims Hospital (Newnham Court) −1.3 wks now 7.7
  6. Stourside Hospital −1.3 wks now 12.0
  7. Spire Alexandra Hospital −1.3 wks now 6.7
  8. University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust −1.1 wks now 20.8
  9. Park Hill Hospital −1.1 wks now 13.9
  10. Spire Liverpool Hospital −1.0 wks now 8.4

Longer waits

  1. Southend Private Hospital +2.8 wks now 9.4
  2. Kings Oak Hospital +2.3 wks now 10.2
  3. Hcrg Care East Riding Llp +2.0 wks now 11.0
  4. Cavell Hospital +1.8 wks now 9.3
  5. St Michael'S Clinic Limited +1.8 wks now 13.3
  6. Isle of Wight NHS Trust +1.4 wks now 17.1
  7. Glendon Wood Hospital +1.4 wks now 9.4
  8. North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust +1.3 wks now 18.7
  9. Beacon Park Hospital +1.3 wks now 10.0
  10. Lincoln Private Hospital +1.2 wks now 10.7

England by specialty

SpecialtyWaitingMedian waitvs Apr 2024Within 18 weeks
General surgery 423,824 15.0 wks +0.4 57%
Urology 418,329 14.9 wks +0.5 58%
Orthopaedics 845,433 15.5 wks +0.1 56%
Ear, nose and throat 657,724 17.6 wks −0.2 51%
Ophthalmology (eyes) 615,479 11.7 wks +0.3 66%
Oral surgery 330,205 17.7 wks −0.3 51%
Neurosurgery 60,016 14.9 wks 0 58%
Plastic surgery 106,322 16.6 wks −0.2 53%
Cardiothoracic surgery 9,335 11.5 wks +0.1 66%
General medicine 39,739 11.5 wks +0.1 68%
Gastroenterology 391,245 13.4 wks +0.3 61%
Cardiology (heart) 413,836 13.9 wks +0.4 61%
Dermatology (skin) 424,495 12.8 wks −0.2 62%
Respiratory medicine 228,341 12.8 wks +0.2 64%
Neurology 237,762 16.5 wks +0.5 54%
Rheumatology 124,214 11.6 wks +0.1 67%
Elderly medicine 23,947 7.9 wks −0.5 79%
Gynaecology 598,348 16.1 wks +0.4 54%
Other medical specialties 645,663 12.3 wks +0.3 65%
Other mental health 2,912 9.5 wks +0.3 77%
Other paediatric specialties 364,430 13.5 wks +0.2 61%
Other surgical specialties 492,663 13.9 wks +0.3 59%
Other services 177,477 10.2 wks +0.4 71%