ShortestWait

NHS waiting times for December 2024

At the end of December 2024, 7.49 million people in England were waiting for consultant-led treatment. Half had waited less than 14.2 weeks, and 58.9% had waited under 18 weeks.

England Dec 2024 vs Nov 2024 vs Dec 2023
People waiting7,494,301 −16,839 −142,972
Median wait (weeks)14.2 +0.2 −0.8
92% within (weeks)42.8 +0.5 −2.4
Within 18 weeks58.9% −0.2 pts +2.3 pts
Waiting over a year203,023 −21,305 −137,207

Biggest changes since November 2024

Change in each provider's median wait across all specialties, among the 251 providers with at least 1,000 patients waiting in both months.

Shorter waits

  1. Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust −2.4 wks now 9.7
  2. Sussex Community Dermatology Service −2.0 wks now 7.4
  3. Woodthorpe Hospital −1.2 wks now 16.2
  4. Practice Plus Group Hospital - Ilford −0.8 wks now 8.8
  5. Practice Plus Group Hospital - Plymouth −0.7 wks now 9.2
  6. London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust −0.6 wks now 18.4
  7. Nuffield Health, Derby Hospital −0.6 wks now 18.3
  8. Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust −0.5 wks now 16.1
  9. Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust −0.5 wks now 14.5
  10. West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust −0.5 wks now 13.6

Longer waits

  1. The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust +2.6 wks now 22.4
  2. Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust +2.5 wks now 29.9
  3. Nuffield Health Highgate Hospital +2.3 wks now 8.4
  4. Winfield Hospital +2.2 wks now 10.8
  5. Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust +2.2 wks now 20.4
  6. Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust +2.2 wks now 15.6
  7. Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust +2.1 wks now 4.3
  8. Droitwich Spa Hospital +1.8 wks now 12.6
  9. Pinehill Hospital +1.8 wks now 13.1
  10. Spire Cheshire Hospital +1.7 wks now 11.0

England by specialty

SpecialtyWaitingMedian waitvs Nov 2024Within 18 weeks
General surgery 408,588 14.7 wks +0.3 58%
Urology 411,528 14.2 wks 0 59%
Orthopaedics 861,778 15.1 wks +0.5 57%
Ear, nose and throat 634,612 18.5 wks +0.1 49%
Ophthalmology (eyes) 591,478 11.5 wks +0.5 67%
Oral surgery 326,448 17.8 wks +0.3 50%
Neurosurgery 60,774 13.7 wks +0.3 61%
Plastic surgery 106,305 16.3 wks +0.4 54%
Cardiothoracic surgery 10,576 11.3 wks +0.7 68%
General medicine 41,196 11.6 wks +0.6 68%
Gastroenterology 397,354 13.0 wks +0.4 63%
Cardiology (heart) 414,434 13.9 wks 0 60%
Dermatology (skin) 404,534 14.8 wks +0.8 58%
Respiratory medicine 220,207 13.1 wks −0.1 62%
Neurology 236,825 16.2 wks +0.2 54%
Rheumatology 124,455 12.3 wks +0.4 65%
Elderly medicine 24,630 8.0 wks +0.6 82%
Gynaecology 587,396 15.6 wks +0.2 55%
Other medical specialties 643,119 12.5 wks +0.4 64%
Other mental health 3,092 8.9 wks +0.8 76%
Other paediatric specialties 339,221 14.0 wks 0 59%
Other surgical specialties 479,153 13.8 wks +0.5 60%
Other services 166,598 10.2 wks +0.3 71%

Providers that did not report

These providers reported in November 2024 but not in December 2024. Usually this is a missed submission; sometimes a merger or a closed service.

Reporting for the first time