ShortestWait

NHS waiting times for July 2026

At the end of July 2026, 7.16 million people in England were waiting for consultant-led treatment. Half had waited less than 12.0 weeks, and 65.3% had waited under 18 weeks.

England Jul 2026 vs Jun 2026 vs Jul 2025
People waiting7,162,692 −16,026 −171,594
Median wait (weeks)12.0 +0.1 −1.1
92% within (weeks)38.5 +0.1 −3.4
Within 18 weeks65.3% −0.5 pts +4.1 pts
Waiting over a year111,429 +4,808 −81,340

Biggest changes since June 2026

Change in each provider's median wait across all specialties, among the 259 providers with at least 1,000 patients waiting in both months.

Shorter waits

  1. Spire Parkway Hospital −3.8 wks now 10.3
  2. Blackheath Hospital −2.5 wks now 7.3
  3. Droitwich Spa Hospital −2.1 wks now 10.8
  4. Spire Elland Hospital −1.9 wks now 8.8
  5. Spire London East −1.4 wks now 14.5
  6. Practice Plus Group Ophthalmology - North West −1.1 wks now 7.7
  7. Euxton Hall Hospital −1.1 wks now 11.2
  8. Beardwood Hospital −1.1 wks now 8.2
  9. The Westbourne Centre −1.0 wks now 14.1
  10. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King'S Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust −1.0 wks now 12.0

Longer waits

  1. Sirona Care & Health +3.1 wks now 9.7
  2. Communitas Clinics +2.7 wks now 12.3
  3. Newmedica - Hertforshire - Welwyn Garden City +2.2 wks now 13.1
  4. Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust +1.7 wks now 14.0
  5. Newmedica - Oxfordshire +1.7 wks now 11.9
  6. Shirley Oaks Hospital +1.5 wks now 10.9
  7. Nuffield Health, York Hospital +1.5 wks now 11.9
  8. Kings Oak Hospital +1.5 wks now 10.4
  9. Claremont Private Hospital +1.5 wks now 17.3
  10. Spire Alexandra Hospital +1.4 wks now 11.4

England by specialty

SpecialtyWaitingMedian waitvs Jun 2026Within 18 weeks
General surgery 383,577 12.6 wks −0.5 63%
Urology 368,963 12.2 wks −0.2 65%
Orthopaedics 848,807 13.6 wks −0.2 61%
Ear, nose and throat 594,940 14.8 wks +0.1 58%
Ophthalmology (eyes) 622,947 10.2 wks +0.3 73%
Oral surgery 319,386 15.9 wks −0.1 54%
Neurosurgery 54,161 13.3 wks −0.1 63%
Plastic surgery 108,107 13.7 wks −0.3 59%
Cardiothoracic surgery 8,807 9.6 wks −0.3 73%
General medicine 35,308 10.2 wks −0.3 72%
Gastroenterology 362,206 11.0 wks −0.1 69%
Cardiology (heart) 366,165 11.7 wks 0 68%
Dermatology (skin) 414,613 10.2 wks −0.1 69%
Respiratory medicine 184,610 10.0 wks +0.1 75%
Neurology 206,652 13.4 wks −0.4 62%
Rheumatology 117,922 10.5 wks +0.2 70%
Elderly medicine 26,838 7.3 wks 0 84%
Gynaecology 586,514 13.8 wks −0.2 60%
Other medical specialties 618,137 10.5 wks +0.1 70%
Other mental health 3,456 8.3 wks −0.5 80%
Other paediatric specialties 324,770 11.8 wks +0.5 67%
Other surgical specialties 470,577 11.3 wks +0.1 66%
Other services 135,229 8.8 wks +0.5 75%

Providers that did not report

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