Last updated with NHS England data for August 2026. How we update

Cardiology Waiting Times Across the NHS

The NHS Cardiology waiting list in England has 360,766 patients currently waiting for treatment, with a typical wait of around 12 weeks across 126 hospitals. In practice, Cardiology waiting times range from about 3 weeks at the fastest hospital to 20 weeks at the slowest. From GP referral to first Cardiology appointment, most patients (92%) are seen within about 31 weeks; the NHS constitutional target is 18 weeks. 2,765 patients have been on the Cardiology waiting list for more than a year. Waits for Cardiology are about 2.2 weeks shorter than in August 2025.

12-month change

Then vs now nationally

Aug 25→Aug 26
Typical wait
11.5weeks
â–¼ -2.2 wks
How long most people wait
Seen in 18 weeks
7in 10
â–² +7 pts
NHS aims to see everyone this fast
People waiting
361k
â–¼ -26k
On the waiting list right now
Waiting over a year
2.8k
â–¼ -4.2k
Been on the list for 12+ months
126
Hospitals you could choose from
12 weeks
How long most people wait
7 in 10
Seen within 18 weeks
2.8k
Have waited over a year

Common reasons for referral

Chest pain investigation
Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia)
Heart failure management
Angiogram and angioplasty
Echocardiogram
High blood pressure
Heart murmur assessment
Palpitations
Post-heart attack follow-up

National trend

Average cardiology wait across England, month by month.

â–¼ -2.2 wks

All hospitals

Hospital Region Wait Within 18 Wks 52+ Wk
Nuffield Health The Holly Hospital East of England East of England 3 wks
100.0%
-
The Hamptons Hospital Ltd East of England East of England 4 wks
93.3%
1
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 5 wks
96.3%
3
Care Plus Group North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
85.1%
6
Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
92.3%
-
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 6 wks
90.2%
-
University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 6 wks
91.5%
2
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 7 wks
84.9%
2
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 7 wks
89.2%
-
Tameside And Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 7 wks
92.0%
-
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust North West North West 7 wks
91.0%
-
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 7 wks
86.4%
-
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
97.3%
-
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 7 wks
92.6%
-
County Durham And Darlington NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
85.2%
1
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
96.5%
-
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
93.6%
-
North Tees And Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
83.2%
-
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
88.0%
1
South Tyneside And Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
84.4%
-
Dorking Healthcare Limited (Dhc) South East South East 8 wks
87.8%
-
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
85.1%
-
Liverpool Heart And Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 8 wks
83.9%
-
Surrey And Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 8 wks
88.3%
-
East And North Hertfordshire NHS Trust East of England East of England 8 wks
94.5%
-
Countess Of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 9 wks
79.6%
-
South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 9 wks
88.6%
-
Doncaster And Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
82.2%
1
Chelsea And Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 9 wks
96.2%
-
Calderdale And Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
82.2%
3
Warrington And Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 9 wks
82.0%
-
Epsomedical Group South East South East 9 wks
76.7%
1
Heart Networks North West North West 9 wks
97.7%
-
Duchy Hospital South West South West 10 wks
76.0%
1
The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
84.0%
-
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 10 wks
79.1%
-
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 10 wks
72.5%
-
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 10 wks
70.8%
-
East Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 10 wks
73.1%
2
Barts Health NHS Trust London London 10 wks
76.5%
-
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust London London 10 wks
78.2%
-
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 10 wks
77.1%
6
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 10 wks
70.8%
-
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 10 wks
74.7%
1
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
72.4%
2
Portsmouth Hospitals University National Health Service Trust South East South East 10 wks
74.3%
5
The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
75.6%
52
Maidstone And Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust South East South East 11 wks
78.4%
-
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
77.8%
-
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 11 wks
74.4%
40
Wrightington, Wigan And Leigh NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 11 wks
67.9%
3
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 11 wks
73.3%
3
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 11 wks
75.7%
5
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 11 wks
75.0%
1
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust East of England East of England 11 wks
77.7%
-
University Hospitals Coventry And Warwickshire NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
74.0%
-
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 11 wks
82.3%
3
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 11 wks
72.9%
-
Whittington Health NHS Trust London London 11 wks
75.1%
-
Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 11 wks
67.2%
7
The Shrewsbury And Telford Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
74.9%
-
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 11 wks
74.4%
1
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 11 wks
69.1%
9
Northern Lincolnshire And Goole NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 11 wks
69.5%
6
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 11 wks
69.0%
18
Lewisham And Greenwich NHS Trust London London 11 wks
70.2%
4
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 12 wks
65.8%
-
Barking, Havering And Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust London London 12 wks
73.6%
2
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
72.5%
2
University Hospitals Of North Midlands NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
63.0%
81
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 12 wks
68.6%
-
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
66.1%
1
Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 12 wks
68.2%
-
Norfolk And Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
68.3%
30
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust London London 12 wks
66.9%
1
St Helens And Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North West North West 12 wks
72.1%
-
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
71.6%
-
University Hospitals Of Leicester NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
67.3%
4
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 12 wks
68.1%
35
Mid And South Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
66.8%
73
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 12 wks
65.1%
1
University Hospitals Of Derby And Burton NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
65.2%
47
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 12 wks
67.6%
63
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 12 wks
67.8%
4
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
66.3%
-
Harrogate And District NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
64.0%
-
Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
80.3%
-
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust South West South West 13 wks
63.3%
8
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 13 wks
64.9%
13
Ashford And St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 13 wks
64.7%
1
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust London London 13 wks
67.3%
11
Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 14 wks
65.1%
-
Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 14 wks
61.3%
18
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 14 wks
61.8%
91
Epsom And St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust London London 14 wks
63.9%
89
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust East of England East of England 14 wks
65.4%
15
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 14 wks
61.6%
43
University Hospitals Bristol And Weston NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 14 wks
59.8%
-
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 14 wks
59.7%
8
Royal Devon And Exeter NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 14 wks
57.9%
184
Guy's And St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust London London 15 wks
58.6%
172
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 15 wks
60.8%
8
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 15 wks
62.9%
-
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 15 wks
59.6%
48
York And Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 15 wks
59.1%
34
Dartford And Gravesham NHS Trust South East South East 15 wks
61.0%
4
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 15 wks
58.0%
42
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust London London 15 wks
58.5%
7
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 15 wks
57.7%
54
Spire Hull And East Riding Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 15 wks
57.1%
-
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 15 wks
58.7%
-
Wye Valley NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 16 wks
57.5%
16
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 16 wks
55.4%
14
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 16 wks
53.8%
49
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 16 wks
53.0%
278
Isle Of Wight NHS Trust South East South East 17 wks
51.4%
-
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 17 wks
53.5%
76
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 17 wks
52.3%
79
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 17 wks
51.9%
68
East Cheshire NHS Trust North West North West 18 wks
51.1%
12
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 18 wks
50.1%
608
Sandwell And West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 18 wks
49.9%
27
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 18 wks
49.5%
108
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 18 wks
49.1%
15
Medway NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 19 wks
47.7%
29
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 20 wks
45.9%
2

Patient experiences

Stories from people who've been through this department.

No reviews yet. Be the first to leave one.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the NHS Cardiology waiting list?

The NHS Cardiology waiting list in England has about 360,766 patients currently waiting for treatment. The typical wait is around 12 weeks (nearly 3 months), based on data from 126 hospitals. Waiting times vary significantly between hospitals, so it's worth comparing your options before accepting a referral.

How long will I wait to see a cardiologist on the NHS?

The headline NHS waiting time is the wait from your GP's referral to your first outpatient appointment, which is the first time you actually see a cardiologist. Nationally this currently averages about 12 weeks. In our data it ranges from as short as 3 weeks at the fastest hospital to 20 weeks at the slowest, so where you are referred matters. Any tests, procedures or treatment that follow that first appointment may have their own waits on top.

What percentage of Cardiology patients are seen within 18 weeks?

Across the NHS, 72% of Cardiology patients are currently seen within the 18-week target. The NHS constitutional standard is 92%.

Can I choose which hospital I'm referred to?

Yes. Under the NHS Constitution, patients in England have the right to choose which hospital they are referred to for a first outpatient appointment. You can use WaitRadar to compare waiting times and discuss your options with your GP.

Source: NHS England RTT statistics. about our methodology

This is informational data, not medical advice. Always discuss referral options with your GP. Full disclaimer.