Guides
NHS waiting times — patient guides
Free, plain-English explainers for the questions patients ask most. Written by a medically trained data scientist. Every number is linked to its NHS source.
Written and reviewed by Mustafa Ghafouri (MBChB, MSc) ·
All guides
Hip & knee replacement waiting times
How long the NHS wait really is (it varies several-fold between hospitals), your legal right to choose a faster one, and how to compare waits near you.
Shoulder surgery waiting times
How long the NHS wait really is for shoulder surgery (rotator cuff, replacement, frozen shoulder), why it varies so much between hospitals, your right to choose a faster one, and how to compare waits near you.
Foot & ankle surgery waiting times
How long the NHS wait really is for foot and ankle surgery (bunions, Achilles, ankle ligaments), what the figure means, your right to choose a faster hospital, and how to compare waits near you.
Hand & wrist surgery waiting times
How long the NHS wait really is for hand and wrist surgery (carpal tunnel, trigger finger, Dupuytren's, ganglion), where it's listed, your right to choose a faster hospital, and how to compare waits near you.
Cataract surgery waiting times
How long the NHS cataract wait really is, why dedicated cataract lists often run faster, the NHS-funded specialist clinics you can choose, and how to compare waits near you.
Hernia & gallbladder surgery waiting times
How long the NHS wait for a hernia or gallbladder operation really is, why the figure is the clinic wait not the op, your right to choose a faster hospital, and how to compare waits near you.
Gynaecology waiting times
How long the NHS gynaecology wait really is (one of the worst-hit specialties), what the figure actually means, your right to choose a faster hospital, and how to compare waits near you.
ENT waiting times
How long the NHS ENT wait really is — tonsils, adenoids, grommets, sinus and hearing — what the figure means, your right to choose a faster hospital, and how to compare waits near you.
Urology waiting times
How long the NHS urology wait really is for planned care (enlarged prostate, kidney stones, bladder), your right to choose a faster hospital, and how to compare waits near you.
Gastroenterology waiting times
How long the NHS gastro wait really is for planned care (reflux, IBD, coeliac, colonoscopy, endoscopy), your right to choose a faster hospital, and how to compare waits near you.
Dermatology waiting times
How long the NHS dermatology wait really is for planned care (psoriasis, eczema, acne, benign lesions), your right to choose a faster hospital, and how to compare waits near you.
Cardiology waiting times
How long the NHS cardiology wait really is for planned care (palpitations, heart failure, valve checks). Chest pain is a 999 emergency — this covers planned care and your right to choose a faster hospital.
Neurology waiting times
How long the NHS neurology wait really is for planned care (migraine, epilepsy, MS, Parkinson's). Stroke symptoms are a 999 emergency — this covers planned referrals and your right to choose a faster hospital.
Rheumatology waiting times
How long the NHS rheumatology wait really is for inflammatory arthritis, lupus, gout and PMR — why early referral matters, the red flags that need urgent care, and your right to choose a faster hospital.
Respiratory (lung) waiting times
How long the NHS respiratory wait really is for asthma, COPD, sleep apnoea and breathlessness — what the pathway looks like, the red flags that need urgent care, and your right to choose a faster hospital.
Endometriosis waiting times
How long the NHS wait for an endometriosis diagnosis really is, the ultrasound and laparoscopy pathway, why delays are so common, and your right to choose a faster gynaecology service.
NHS waiting list checker — how long will I wait?
The honest answer to 'where am I in the queue?' (there's no public position number) — plus how to check your hospital's likely wait for any specialty, free, and how to be seen faster.
GP referral sent to 'Advice & Guidance'?
Since April 2026 many referrals go through Advice & Guidance first. Why it's not a rejection, what your rights are, and how to compare waits once you're referred.
NHS dentist waiting list — why it doesn't exist
No central queue, no registration, no published data — how NHS dental access actually works, urgent care via 111, and the hospital dental waits that ARE compared here.
How to find out NHS waiting times
Five free ways to find your wait — from the NHS RTT release to the trust-by-trust comparison and your Right to Choose.
What are NHS waiting times?
Plain-English explainer of RTT, the 18-week standard, the median wait, DM01 diagnostics, and why your wait differs from the headline.
NHS waiting list explained
How the NHS waiting list works, how you get on it, how to find your place — and how to switch hospital for a shorter wait.
Ready to compare
Search NHS waits near you
Compare every NHS hospital in England by specialty and postcode. Free, independent, updated monthly.
Search NHS waits near youSee also FAQ, methodology, and insights.