NHS waiting times for May 2025
At the end of May 2025, 7.39 million people in England were waiting for consultant-led treatment. Half had waited less than 13.6 weeks, and 60.9% had waited under 18 weeks.
| England | May 2025 | vs Apr 2025 | vs May 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| People waiting | 7,388,277 | −33,176 | −243,462 |
| Median wait (weeks) | 13.6 | +0.3 | −0.6 |
| 92% within (weeks) | 42.6 | +0.3 | −2.4 |
| Within 18 weeks | 60.9% | +1.2 pts | +1.8 pts |
| Waiting over a year | 199,590 | +7,030 | −110,218 |
Biggest changes since April 2025
Change in each provider's median wait across all specialties, among the 248 providers with at least 1,000 patients waiting in both months.
Shorter waits
- Spire Cheshire Hospital −2.8 wks now 8.6
- Nuffield Health, North Staffordshire Hospital −1.6 wks now 8.4
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust −1.6 wks now 17.8
- The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust −1.3 wks now 16.9
- The Cherwell Hospital −1.3 wks now 14.0
- Spire Regency Hospital −1.1 wks now 6.4
- Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust −1.1 wks now 18.4
- Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust −1.1 wks now 14.9
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust −1.1 wks now 17.1
- The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust −1.0 wks now 17.7
Longer waits
- Communitas Clinics +3.7 wks now 14.2
- Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust +2.8 wks now 17.0
- Dorking Healthcare Limited (Dhc) +1.8 wks now 9.0
- Practice Plus Group Ophthalmology - North West +1.8 wks now 7.9
- Pioneer Healthcare Limited +1.6 wks now 17.4
- Spire Alexandra Hospital +1.6 wks now 9.2
- Spire Hartswood Hospital +1.6 wks now 12.5
- Nuffield Health, Brentwood Hospital +1.3 wks now 9.6
- Claremont Private Hospital +1.3 wks now 10.0
- Winfield Hospital +1.2 wks now 12.7
England by specialty
| Specialty | Waiting | Median wait | vs Apr 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General surgery | 394,767 | 13.9 wks | +0.4 |
| Urology | 401,627 | 14.0 wks | +0.5 |
| Orthopaedics | 851,668 | 14.8 wks | +0.2 |
| Ear, nose and throat | 637,813 | 17.3 wks | +0.2 |
| Ophthalmology (eyes) | 591,689 | 10.6 wks | +0.4 |
| Oral surgery | 330,318 | 17.3 wks | −0.2 |
| Neurosurgery | 58,778 | 13.9 wks | 0 |
| Plastic surgery | 102,837 | 15.4 wks | +0.1 |
| Cardiothoracic surgery | 9,991 | 11.7 wks | +0.5 |
| General medicine | 37,880 | 11.5 wks | 0 |
| Gastroenterology | 377,572 | 12.7 wks | +0.1 |
| Cardiology (heart) | 401,421 | 13.7 wks | +0.4 |
| Dermatology (skin) | 413,963 | 12.5 wks | −0.1 |
| Respiratory medicine | 208,340 | 12.7 wks | +0.3 |
| Neurology | 225,459 | 15.8 wks | +0.1 |
| Rheumatology | 123,363 | 11.3 wks | +0.3 |
| Elderly medicine | 23,648 | 7.7 wks | +0.2 |
| Gynaecology | 579,525 | 15.4 wks | +0.4 |
| Other medical specialties | 640,580 | 12.0 wks | +0.5 |
| Other mental health | 2,438 | 9.6 wks | −0.2 |
| Other paediatric specialties | 332,200 | 13.3 wks | +0.4 |
| Other surgical specialties | 482,498 | 12.9 wks | +0.4 |
| Other services | 159,902 | 9.2 wks | +0.2 |
Providers that did not report
These providers reported in April 2025 but not in May 2025. Usually this is a missed submission; sometimes a merger or a closed service.
- Nuffield Health, Guildford Hospital (486 waiting in Apr 2025)
- Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust (4 waiting in Apr 2025)
- Newmedica - Bury St Edmunds (1 waiting in Apr 2025)
Reporting for the first time
- Spamedica Croydon (20 waiting)