General Medicine Waiting Times Across the NHS

The NHS General Medicine waiting list in England has 33,346 patients currently waiting for treatment, with a typical wait of around 8 weeks across 77 hospitals. In practice, General Medicine waiting times range from about 1 weeks at the fastest hospital to 24 weeks at the slowest. From GP referral to first General Medicine appointment, most patients (92%) are seen within about 25 weeks; the NHS constitutional target is 18 weeks. 263 patients have been on the General Medicine waiting list for more than a year. Waits for General Medicine haven't really changed since June 2025.

12-month change

Then vs now nationally

Jun 25→Jun 26
Typical wait
8.4weeks
â–¼ -0.5 wks
How long most people wait
Seen in 18 weeks
8in 10
â–² +2.9 pts
NHS aims to see everyone this fast
People waiting
33k
â–¼ -2.1k
On the waiting list right now
Waiting over a year
263
â–² +33
Been on the list for 12+ months
77
Hospitals you could choose from
8 weeks
How long most people wait
8 in 10
Seen within 18 weeks
263
Have waited over a year

Common reasons for referral

Complex diagnostic investigations
Chronic disease management
Unexplained weight loss
Fatigue investigation
Fever of unknown origin
Anaemia workup
Diabetes management
Hypertension review

National trend

Average general medicine wait across England, month by month.

â–¼ -0.5 wks

All hospitals

Hospital Region Wait Within 18 Wks 52+ Wk
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 1 wks
97.8%
-
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 1 wks
97.4%
-
University Hospitals Of Leicester NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 1 wks
100.0%
-
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 2 wks
94.8%
-
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust South West South West 2 wks
94.4%
-
East And North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust East of England East of England 3 wks
100.0%
-
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 3 wks
82.8%
-
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 3 wks
93.6%
-
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 3 wks
81.7%
-
Tameside And Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 3 wks
92.5%
-
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 4 wks
96.8%
-
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 4 wks
92.9%
-
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 4 wks
100.0%
-
Chelsea And Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 4 wks
88.6%
-
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 4 wks
86.1%
3
Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 4 wks
70.7%
-
North Tees And Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 4 wks
97.3%
-
University Hospitals Coventry And Warwickshire NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 4 wks
95.2%
-
Countess Of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 4 wks
93.8%
-
University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 5 wks
83.5%
3
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 5 wks
100.0%
-
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
100.0%
-
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
100.0%
-
Surrey And Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 6 wks
81.4%
-
Mersey And West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North West North West 6 wks
87.8%
-
Hampshire And Isle Of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 6 wks
89.8%
-
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 6 wks
91.3%
-
Ashford And St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 6 wks
100.0%
-
Dorking Healthcare Limited (Dhc) South East South East 6 wks
92.0%
-
North Cheshire And Mersey NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 7 wks
100.0%
-
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 7 wks
83.8%
5
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 7 wks
79.5%
-
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 7 wks
99.5%
-
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 7 wks
100.0%
-
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 7 wks
76.3%
-
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 7 wks
91.2%
1
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 8 wks
87.7%
1
Northern Lincolnshire And Goole NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
88.1%
-
The Robert Jones And Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
92.3%
12
Medway NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 8 wks
96.9%
-
Calderdale And Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
97.2%
-
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 8 wks
85.2%
-
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust London London 8 wks
66.9%
-
The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
84.3%
-
Guy's And St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust London London 9 wks
88.8%
-
The Shrewsbury And Telford Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 9 wks
83.2%
-
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
76.7%
-
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust East of England East of England 10 wks
100.0%
-
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 10 wks
90.5%
-
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 10 wks
87.9%
-
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 10 wks
75.2%
2
Dartford And Gravesham NHS Trust South East South East 10 wks
68.9%
-
Fitzwilliam Hospital East of England East of England 10 wks
55.0%
-
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 10 wks
100.0%
-
The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
77.9%
-
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust London London 11 wks
70.2%
-
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
69.6%
2
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 11 wks
65.5%
-
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust London London 11 wks
70.9%
-
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 11 wks
62.6%
-
Wrightington, Wigan And Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 12 wks
75.0%
-
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 12 wks
75.0%
1
County Durham And Darlington NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
66.8%
-
Mid And South Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
67.1%
60
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 13 wks
79.0%
-
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 14 wks
80.0%
-
Epsom And St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust London London 14 wks
56.8%
2
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 15 wks
59.2%
-
Lewisham And Greenwich NHS Trust London London 15 wks
59.2%
60
United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 15 wks
69.6%
18
Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 15 wks
60.0%
1
Kingston And Richmond NHS Foundation Trust London London 16 wks
57.2%
-
East Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 16 wks
53.9%
-
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 17 wks
52.2%
34
Barts Health NHS Trust London London 18 wks
54.4%
-
Wye Valley NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 18 wks
48.1%
-
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 24 wks
39.0%
58

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the NHS General Medicine waiting list?

The NHS General Medicine waiting list in England has about 33,346 patients currently waiting for treatment. The typical wait is around 8 weeks (2 months), based on data from 77 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 consultant 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 consultant. Nationally this currently averages about 8 weeks. In our data it ranges from as short as 1 weeks at the fastest hospital to 24 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 General Medicine patients are seen within 18 weeks?

Across the NHS, 82% of General Medicine 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.