ShortestWait

NHS waiting times for August 2026

These are the latest figures.

At the end of August 2026, 7.19 million people in England were waiting for consultant-led treatment. Half had waited less than 12.2 weeks, and 65.2% had waited under 18 weeks.

England Aug 2026 vs Jul 2026 vs Aug 2025
People waiting7,189,213 +26,521 −156,331
Median wait (weeks)12.2 +0.2 −1.3
92% within (weeks)38.9 +0.4 −3.4
Within 18 weeks65.2% −0.1 pts +4.2 pts
Waiting over a year112,958 +1,529 −79,066

Biggest changes since July 2026

Change in each provider's median wait across all specialties, among the 261 providers with at least 1,000 patients waiting in both months.

Shorter waits

  1. Nuffield Health, North Staffordshire Hospital −5.4 wks now 6.7
  2. Spire Fylde Coast Hospital −4.7 wks now 8.6
  3. Spire Cheshire Hospital −3.2 wks now 6.3
  4. Nuffield Health, Derby Hospital −3.1 wks now 13.8
  5. Beacon Park Hospital −2.2 wks now 12.7
  6. Beacon Medical Services Group Limited −2.0 wks now 5.6
  7. Newmedica - Teesside - North Ormesby −1.8 wks now 7.2
  8. Fairfield Independent Hospital −1.8 wks now 9.2
  9. Spire Liverpool Hospital −1.7 wks now 7.4
  10. The Berkshire Independent Hospital −1.7 wks now 7.9

Longer waits

  1. Cora Health Diagnostics (Formerly Healthshare Diagnostics) +2.3 wks now 14.4
  2. Communitas Clinics +2.0 wks now 14.4
  3. Nuffield Health, Brentwood Hospital +2.0 wks now 20.7
  4. St Michael'S Clinic Limited +1.8 wks now 15.2
  5. Practice Plus Group Hospital - Emersons Green +1.7 wks now 10.9
  6. Hendon Hospital +1.6 wks now 9.2
  7. Nuffield Health the Holly Hospital +1.6 wks now 11.6
  8. Cavell Hospital +1.3 wks now 11.0
  9. Newmedica - Hertforshire - Welwyn Garden City +1.3 wks now 14.4
  10. Kings Oak Hospital +1.3 wks now 11.7

England by specialty

SpecialtyWaitingMedian waitvs Jul 2026Within 18 weeks
General surgery 384,914 12.8 wks +0.1 63%
Urology 367,027 12.2 wks +0.1 65%
Orthopaedics 851,183 13.9 wks +0.3 61%
Ear, nose and throat 590,233 15.4 wks +0.6 57%
Ophthalmology (eyes) 625,063 10.4 wks +0.1 72%
Oral surgery 316,357 16.4 wks +0.5 54%
Neurosurgery 54,748 13.4 wks +0.1 62%
Plastic surgery 109,605 14.0 wks +0.2 59%
Cardiothoracic surgery 8,798 9.6 wks 0 74%
General medicine 31,589 10.2 wks 0 72%
Gastroenterology 358,127 11.0 wks +0.1 70%
Cardiology (heart) 362,143 11.9 wks +0.2 68%
Dermatology (skin) 423,217 10.5 wks +0.3 69%
Respiratory medicine 182,914 10.4 wks +0.4 74%
Neurology 208,030 13.2 wks −0.1 62%
Rheumatology 118,397 10.9 wks +0.4 70%
Elderly medicine 27,431 7.6 wks +0.3 84%
Gynaecology 586,582 14.2 wks +0.5 60%
Other medical specialties 622,434 10.7 wks +0.2 70%
Other mental health 3,361 8.4 wks +0.2 82%
Other paediatric specialties 322,905 12.3 wks +0.6 66%
Other surgical specialties 474,806 11.4 wks +0.1 67%
Other services 159,349 8.7 wks −0.1 76%

Providers that did not report

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