ShortestWait

NHS waiting times for February 2026

At the end of February 2026, 7.16 million people in England were waiting for consultant-led treatment. Half had waited less than 13.2 weeks, and 62.5% had waited under 18 weeks.

England Feb 2026 vs Jan 2026 vs Feb 2025
People waiting7,156,212 −31,465 −275,700
Median wait (weeks)13.2 −0.5 −1.0
92% within (weeks)39.5 −0.9 −2.7
Within 18 weeks62.5% +1.1 pts +3.4 pts
Waiting over a year124,280 −13,040 −71,641

Biggest changes since January 2026

Change in each provider's median wait across all specialties, among the 258 providers with at least 1,000 patients waiting in both months.

Shorter waits

  1. Practice Plus Group Ophthalmology - North West −6.9 wks now 6.6
  2. East Cheshire NHS Trust −3.2 wks now 14.7
  3. Sussex Community Dermatology Service −3.2 wks now 7.8
  4. Cora Health Diagnostics (Formerly Healthshare Diagnostics) −2.8 wks now 14.7
  5. Southend Private Hospital −2.6 wks now 7.9
  6. Newmedica - Gloucester (Brighouse Court) −2.3 wks now 8.0
  7. Spire Parkway Hospital −2.0 wks now 10.4
  8. Spire Alexandra Hospital −1.8 wks now 10.3
  9. University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust −1.7 wks now 15.6
  10. Spire Wellesley Hospital −1.7 wks now 15.1

Longer waits

  1. Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust +3.2 wks now 16.6
  2. The Hamptons Hospital Ltd +2.0 wks now 22.5
  3. Newmedica - Berkshire +1.8 wks now 12.6
  4. Newmedica - Hampshire +1.5 wks now 14.5
  5. Blackheath Hospital +1.4 wks now 12.7
  6. Claremont Private Hospital +1.4 wks now 13.3
  7. Renacres Hospital +1.4 wks now 15.8
  8. Rowley Hall Hospital +1.3 wks now 14.8
  9. Droitwich Spa Hospital +1.3 wks now 10.8
  10. The Berkshire Independent Hospital +1.2 wks now 10.3

England by specialty

SpecialtyWaitingMedian waitvs Jan 2026Within 18 weeks
General surgery 385,499 13.9 wks −0.3 60%
Urology 386,911 12.7 wks −0.3 64%
Orthopaedics 837,743 15.0 wks −0.1 58%
Ear, nose and throat 587,637 15.8 wks −0.8 55%
Ophthalmology (eyes) 602,540 10.9 wks −0.5 71%
Oral surgery 322,932 16.5 wks −0.5 54%
Neurosurgery 56,821 14.1 wks −0.2 60%
Plastic surgery 103,747 15.9 wks −0.4 55%
Cardiothoracic surgery 9,323 11.1 wks +0.1 71%
General medicine 37,666 11.4 wks −0.4 68%
Gastroenterology 379,573 12.2 wks −0.5 66%
Cardiology (heart) 382,774 12.4 wks −0.6 66%
Dermatology (skin) 381,323 13.4 wks −0.6 61%
Respiratory medicine 185,125 10.5 wks −0.7 72%
Neurology 216,273 15.0 wks −0.4 58%
Rheumatology 114,276 11.7 wks −0.4 67%
Elderly medicine 26,545 7.4 wks −1.3 80%
Gynaecology 565,435 14.8 wks −0.5 58%
Other medical specialties 624,597 11.6 wks −0.5 67%
Other mental health 3,036 7.9 wks −1.4 80%
Other paediatric specialties 316,672 12.4 wks −0.5 65%
Other surgical specialties 476,457 12.5 wks −0.5 64%
Other services 153,307 8.5 wks −1.3 75%

Providers that did not report

These providers reported in January 2026 but not in February 2026. Usually this is a missed submission; sometimes a merger or a closed service.