Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Waiting Times Across the NHS

The NHS Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) waiting list in England has 594,479 patients currently waiting for treatment, with a typical wait of around 13 weeks across 159 hospitals. In practice, Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) waiting times range from about 1 weeks at the fastest hospital to 39 weeks at the slowest. From GP referral to first Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) appointment, most patients (92%) are seen within about 36 weeks; the NHS constitutional target is 18 weeks. 12,538 patients have been on the Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) waiting list for more than a year. Waits for Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) are about 2.1 weeks shorter than in June 2025.

12-month change

Then vs now nationally

Jun 25→Jun 26
Typical wait
13.2weeks
â–¼ -2.1 wks
How long most people wait
Seen in 18 weeks
6in 10
â–² +4.9 pts
NHS aims to see everyone this fast
People waiting
594k
â–¼ -41k
On the waiting list right now
Waiting over a year
13k
â–¼ -15k
Been on the list for 12+ months
159
Hospitals you could choose from
13 weeks
How long most people wait
6 in 10
Seen within 18 weeks
13k
Have waited over a year

Common reasons for referral

Tonsil removal (tonsillectomy)
Grommets for glue ear
Hearing loss assessment
Sinus surgery
Nasal polyp removal
Sleep apnoea treatment
Deviated septum correction
Ear infections
Voice and swallowing problems

National trend

Average ear, nose & throat (ent) wait across England, month by month.

â–¼ -2.1 wks

All hospitals

Hospital Region Wait Within 18 Wks 52+ Wk
The Living Care Group North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 1 wks
100.0%
-
Rsa (Athena Surgical Centre) East of England East of England 1 wks
100.0%
-
Droitwich Spa Hospital Midlands Midlands 3 wks
95.2%
-
Hampshire And Isle Of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 3 wks
100.0%
-
Spire Harpenden Hospital East of England East of England 4 wks
100.0%
-
Spire Cheshire Hospital North West North West 4 wks
96.4%
-
Nuffield Health The Holly Hospital East of England East of England 5 wks
82.7%
42
Spire Fylde Coast Hospital North West North West 5 wks
82.8%
-
Spire Liverpool Hospital North West North West 6 wks
97.8%
-
Epsomedical Group South East South East 6 wks
90.2%
3
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 6 wks
78.7%
1
Benenden Hospital South East South East 6 wks
79.8%
-
Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - St Marys Portsmouth South East South East 6 wks
87.5%
-
Nuffield Health Highgate Hospital London London 6 wks
89.6%
1
Nuffield Health Parkside Hospital London London 7 wks
80.3%
1
Beacon Medical Services Group Limited North West North West 7 wks
99.1%
-
Renacres Hospital North West North West 7 wks
66.2%
2
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Emersons Green South West South West 7 wks
86.7%
-
Beardwood Hospital North West North West 7 wks
85.1%
-
Spire Bushey Hospital East of England East of England 7 wks
94.7%
-
University Of Southampton Auditory Implant Service South East South East 7 wks
70.4%
7
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust North West North West 7 wks
81.2%
-
The Hamptons Hospital Ltd East of England East of England 8 wks
76.2%
1
Woodlands Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
87.7%
-
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 8 wks
85.7%
2
Fairfield Independent Hospital North West North West 8 wks
80.3%
2
Clementine Churchill Hospital London London 8 wks
91.9%
-
South Tyneside And Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
83.2%
-
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Ilford London London 8 wks
72.4%
-
Buckshaw Hospital North West North West 9 wks
79.4%
-
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust South West South West 9 wks
77.7%
17
The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
78.9%
10
The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
73.0%
76
Communitas Clinics London London 10 wks
80.8%
10
Inhealth Limited South East South East 10 wks
80.3%
-
Epsom And St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust London London 10 wks
76.2%
11
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 10 wks
81.2%
6
Spire Hull And East Riding Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
73.6%
-
The Yorkshire Clinic North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
71.7%
-
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust South West South West 10 wks
73.2%
18
University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 10 wks
73.0%
49
University Hospitals Bristol And Weston NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 11 wks
68.4%
-
County Durham And Darlington NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 11 wks
72.4%
-
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 11 wks
70.0%
20
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
70.5%
1
Medway NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 11 wks
74.6%
-
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 11 wks
66.9%
25
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
68.7%
121
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 11 wks
68.4%
14
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
67.1%
102
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
67.5%
39
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 12 wks
67.2%
46
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust London London 12 wks
65.7%
28
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 12 wks
66.7%
62
Harrogate And District NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
69.3%
1
Countess Of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 12 wks
71.2%
16
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
65.3%
16
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
67.1%
33
Circle Reading Hospital South East South East 12 wks
64.5%
-
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 13 wks
65.1%
-
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 13 wks
68.9%
11
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 13 wks
61.3%
75
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 13 wks
64.4%
1
Springfield Hospital East of England East of England 13 wks
65.9%
-
Isle Of Wight NHS Trust South East South East 13 wks
61.4%
-
Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 13 wks
69.9%
-
Dorking Healthcare Limited (Dhc) South East South East 13 wks
62.6%
-
Spencer Private Hospitals Ltd South East South East 13 wks
62.9%
2
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 13 wks
64.7%
162
Barking, Havering And Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust London London 13 wks
65.2%
112
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 13 wks
61.4%
6
Calderdale And Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 13 wks
64.2%
-
Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - Devizes South West South West 14 wks
63.6%
-
Claremont Private Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 14 wks
61.0%
4
Mersey And West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North West North West 14 wks
63.7%
88
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 14 wks
61.7%
8
Kingston And Richmond NHS Foundation Trust London London 14 wks
64.1%
41
Northern Lincolnshire And Goole NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 14 wks
62.7%
179
East Cheshire NHS Trust North West North West 14 wks
63.7%
22
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 14 wks
62.6%
13
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust London London 14 wks
62.6%
4
Norfolk And Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 14 wks
66.0%
55
Maidstone And Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust South East South East 14 wks
62.2%
3
Guy's And St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust London London 14 wks
59.6%
55
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 14 wks
61.4%
1
Tameside And Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 14 wks
63.4%
-
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 14 wks
62.8%
1
University Hospitals Of North Midlands NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 14 wks
58.6%
153
Wye Valley NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 14 wks
62.5%
3
Ashford And St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 14 wks
60.0%
69
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 14 wks
59.7%
53
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 14 wks
60.2%
4
Surrey And Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 14 wks
60.8%
181
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 14 wks
58.8%
93
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 14 wks
60.0%
26
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 15 wks
60.4%
5
Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 15 wks
59.9%
36
The Shrewsbury And Telford Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 15 wks
61.7%
-
Beaumont Hospital North West North West 15 wks
59.5%
-
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 15 wks
60.4%
-
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 15 wks
57.7%
190
East And North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust East of England East of England 15 wks
57.8%
30
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust London London 15 wks
59.7%
229
Whittington Health NHS Trust London London 15 wks
61.6%
-
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 15 wks
59.9%
-
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 15 wks
57.8%
131
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Shepton Mallet South West South West 15 wks
52.4%
6
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 15 wks
55.0%
252
Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 15 wks
57.9%
34
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust London London 16 wks
56.3%
364
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 16 wks
55.5%
68
Sulis Hospital Bath (Foxcote Avenue) South West South West 16 wks
62.7%
-
York And Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 16 wks
55.8%
99
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 16 wks
56.3%
100
North Cheshire And Mersey NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 16 wks
56.9%
37
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust South East South East 16 wks
54.7%
498
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 16 wks
55.9%
27
East Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 16 wks
56.1%
-
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 16 wks
56.0%
144
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 16 wks
55.8%
31
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 16 wks
55.0%
364
Nuffield Health, Tees Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 16 wks
100.0%
-
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 16 wks
54.5%
198
University Hospitals Of Derby And Burton NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 16 wks
54.2%
108
Chelsea And Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 16 wks
54.7%
125
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 17 wks
53.7%
58
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 17 wks
53.6%
120
Omnes Healthcare Ltd North West North West 17 wks
53.6%
205
Lewisham And Greenwich NHS Trust London London 17 wks
52.8%
176
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 17 wks
54.2%
7
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 17 wks
53.2%
127
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 17 wks
53.7%
16
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 17 wks
52.7%
73
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 17 wks
53.0%
88
University Hospitals Of Leicester NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 17 wks
52.2%
240
Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 17 wks
52.5%
147
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 17 wks
52.0%
70
Wrightington, Wigan And Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 17 wks
51.6%
212
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 17 wks
51.7%
104
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 18 wks
51.0%
260
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 18 wks
51.1%
68
Doncaster And Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 18 wks
50.5%
275
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 18 wks
50.4%
195
United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 18 wks
48.7%
154
Oaks Hospital East of England East of England 19 wks
45.3%
-
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 19 wks
48.5%
193
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 19 wks
47.0%
248
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust East of England East of England 19 wks
47.2%
160
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust London London 20 wks
47.4%
231
Barts Health NHS Trust London London 20 wks
46.5%
226
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Southampton South East South East 20 wks
42.1%
1
Rivers Hospital East of England East of England 20 wks
39.9%
4
Sandwell And West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 21 wks
43.0%
107
Nuffield Health, Brentwood Hospital East of England East of England 21 wks
44.0%
81
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 21 wks
43.0%
437
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 22 wks
39.7%
37
University Hospitals Coventry And Warwickshire NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 23 wks
40.3%
569
Mid And South Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 24 wks
37.8%
2,363
Modality Llp Midlands Midlands 39 wks
0.4%
2

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the NHS Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) waiting list?

The NHS Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) waiting list in England has about 594,479 patients currently waiting for treatment. The typical wait is around 13 weeks (3 months), based on data from 159 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 an ENT specialist 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 an ENT specialist. Nationally this currently averages about 13 weeks. In our data it ranges from as short as 1 weeks at the fastest hospital to 39 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 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) patients are seen within 18 weeks?

Across the NHS, 65% of Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) 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.