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.
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.
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.
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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.