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

General Medicine Waiting Times Across the NHS

The NHS General Medicine waiting list in England has 28,716 patients currently waiting for treatment, with a typical wait of around 9 weeks across 75 hospitals. In practice, General Medicine waiting times range from about 2 weeks at the fastest hospital to 26 weeks at the slowest. From GP referral to first General Medicine appointment, most patients (92%) are seen within about 23 weeks; the NHS constitutional target is 18 weeks. 172 patients have been on the General Medicine waiting list for more than a year. Waits for General Medicine are about 0.9 week shorter than in August 2025.

12-month change

Then vs now nationally

Aug 25→Aug 26
Typical wait
8.5weeks
â–¼ -0.9 wks
How long most people wait
Seen in 18 weeks
8in 10
â–² +5.8 pts
NHS aims to see everyone this fast
People waiting
29k
â–¼ -3.7k
On the waiting list right now
Waiting over a year
172
â–¼ -141
Been on the list for 12+ months
75
Hospitals you could choose from
9 weeks
How long most people wait
8 in 10
Seen within 18 weeks
172
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 -0.9 wks

All hospitals

Hospital Region Wait Within 18 Wks 52+ Wk
University Hospitals Of Leicester NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 2 wks
95.2%
-
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 2 wks
100.0%
-
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 3 wks
100.0%
-
Tameside And Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 3 wks
97.9%
-
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 3 wks
100.0%
-
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 4 wks
87.8%
-
Countess Of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 4 wks
97.0%
-
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 4 wks
100.0%
-
South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 4 wks
92.8%
-
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 4 wks
100.0%
-
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 4 wks
95.8%
-
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 4 wks
100.0%
-
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 4 wks
83.0%
2
Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 5 wks
84.8%
-
Epsom And St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust London London 5 wks
87.1%
-
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 5 wks
91.9%
-
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 5 wks
87.4%
-
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust East of England East of England 5 wks
98.3%
-
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 5 wks
100.0%
-
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust London London 5 wks
89.0%
-
Warrington And Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 6 wks
100.0%
-
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 6 wks
95.3%
-
University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 6 wks
84.0%
3
St Helens And Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North West North West 6 wks
90.7%
-
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 6 wks
86.4%
2
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 6 wks
93.9%
-
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
97.4%
-
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
99.6%
-
University Hospitals Coventry And Warwickshire NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 6 wks
96.5%
-
North Tees And Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
95.8%
-
Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 6 wks
90.9%
-
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust East of England East of England 6 wks
97.5%
-
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 7 wks
86.8%
-
East And North Hertfordshire NHS Trust East of England East of England 7 wks
100.0%
-
Dorking Healthcare Limited (Dhc) South East South East 7 wks
97.6%
-
The Robert Jones And Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 7 wks
94.0%
7
Ashford And St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 7 wks
98.8%
-
Chelsea And Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 8 wks
98.4%
-
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 8 wks
88.4%
-
The Shrewsbury And Telford Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
88.7%
-
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 8 wks
87.5%
1
The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
82.9%
2
Lewisham And Greenwich NHS Trust London London 8 wks
91.5%
2
Calderdale And Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
92.6%
-
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 9 wks
100.0%
-
Surrey And Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 9 wks
82.5%
1
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust London London 9 wks
94.6%
-
Medway NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 9 wks
97.9%
-
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 9 wks
75.7%
-
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
76.9%
2
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 9 wks
93.1%
-
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 10 wks
95.5%
-
Wrightington, Wigan And Leigh NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 10 wks
80.7%
-
The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
81.4%
-
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 10 wks
84.0%
-
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
73.4%
1
Northern Lincolnshire And Goole NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
81.9%
-
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 10 wks
94.8%
-
Mid And South Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 11 wks
64.0%
47
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 11 wks
68.5%
-
Guy's And St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust London London 11 wks
80.5%
-
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 12 wks
73.1%
-
Dartford And Gravesham NHS Trust South East South East 12 wks
67.5%
-
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 13 wks
65.9%
4
County Durham And Darlington NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 13 wks
62.7%
2
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 14 wks
69.6%
-
Royal Devon And Exeter NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 14 wks
62.9%
2
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 16 wks
54.1%
1
Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 16 wks
55.9%
-
Barts Health NHS Trust London London 16 wks
53.1%
-
Wye Valley NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 17 wks
57.1%
-
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 19 wks
46.8%
-
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 19 wks
46.0%
7
East Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 25 wks
35.4%
38
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 26 wks
34.7%
48

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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 28,716 patients currently waiting for treatment. The typical wait is around 9 weeks (2 months), based on data from 75 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 9 weeks. In our data it ranges from as short as 2 weeks at the fastest hospital to 26 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, 84% 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.