Trauma and Orthopaedic Service

Trauma and Orthopaedic Service at UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS DORSET NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

What this means for you

Your wait is roughly 6 weeks longer than average.

3/10Doctor Data Wait Score™ · Below averagevs nat. median 12w

At UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS DORSET NHS FOUNDATION TRUST, the median trauma and orthopaedic service wait is 18 weeks, compared to 12 weeks nationally. Doctor Data Wait Score: 3/10. You may be able to cut your wait substantially by switching to a different NHS hospital using your Right to Choose. Below are your realistic options.

How UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS DORSET NHS FOUNDATION TRUST compares

Rank: #111 of 128 — 17 trusts faster, among the slowest 25% of trusts treating Trauma and Orthopaedic Service in England.
12-month trend: falling — 1 week shorter than a year ago.
Fastest nationally: BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST — 3-week wait. Switch saves 15 weeks.

This is the typical wait for Trauma and Orthopaedic Service as a whole at UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS DORSET NHS FOUNDATION TRUST. Your specific procedure could be faster or slower — ask your GP for an estimate that's specific to you.

Talk to your GP about Right to Choose
By NHS law you can choose any NHS hospital in England for your first outpatient appointment. Take a pre-filled letter to your GP — it sets out your situation and the trust you'd prefer.
Generate GP letter
Compare with other NHS hospitals near you
See which NHS trusts have shorter waits for this specialty. Useful evidence for your GP conversation.
See national rankings for trauma orthopaedics
Check if private medical insurance would cover this
Many people have PMI through their employer or partner without realising. A 5-minute check can be worth months saved.
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UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS DORSET NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTPOOLE, BH15 2JB

The data behind it

Median wait: 18wOn the list: 7,972Within 18 weeks: 49%

Trauma and Orthopaedic Service — 12-month median wait

This trust (solid) vs national average (dashed). Data through March 2026.

12-month range: 17-20 weeks (spread 3 weeks). Trust waits are sensitive to consultant joins/leaves, list-management policy, and coding changes — the headline median above is one point in this range, not a fixed value.

▸ Why median wait can vary (pooled lists, coding, consultant mix)

Wait times are pooled across all consultants in this specialty at this trust. Your individual wait depends on which consultant you're allocated. Why this matters →

Source: NHS England RTT. Median wait calculated from the published weekly band distribution for incomplete pathways. Source: NHS England RTT · Analysis: Doctor Data Ltd.

Your options now

Pre-fill a GP letter for UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS DORSET NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

Two-minute form. Takes a copy of this trust + specialty to your GP appointment. You can edit the wording before printing.

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