General Surgery Waiting Times Across the NHS

The NHS General Surgery waiting list in England has 382,281 patients currently waiting for treatment, with a typical wait of around 12 weeks across 266 hospitals. In practice, General Surgery waiting times range from about 3 weeks at the fastest hospital to 40 weeks at the slowest. From GP referral to first General Surgery appointment, most patients (92%) are seen within about 33 weeks; the NHS constitutional target is 18 weeks. 7,475 patients have been on the General Surgery waiting list for more than a year. Waits for General Surgery haven't really changed since June 2025.

12-month change

Then vs now nationally

Jun 25→Jun 26
Typical wait
11.7weeks
No change
How long most people wait
Seen in 18 weeks
7in 10
No change
NHS aims to see everyone this fast
People waiting
382k
â–¼ -13k
On the waiting list right now
Waiting over a year
7.5k
â–¼ -3.5k
Been on the list for 12+ months
266
Hospitals you could choose from
12 weeks
How long most people wait
7 in 10
Seen within 18 weeks
7.5k
Have waited over a year

Common reasons for referral

Hernia repair
Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy)
Appendix removal
Bowel surgery
Thyroid surgery
Haemorrhoid treatment
Varicose vein surgery
Abscess drainage
Lipoma removal

National trend

Average general surgery wait across England, month by month.

No change

All hospitals

Hospital Region Wait Within 18 Wks 52+ Wk
Independent Health Group South West South West 3 wks
98.1%
-
Dorking Healthcare Limited (Dhc) South East South East 3 wks
94.9%
-
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 3 wks
93.8%
7
Bishops Wood Hospital London London 4 wks
93.5%
-
York And Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 4 wks
93.1%
-
Nuffield Health, Wolverhampton Hospital Midlands Midlands 4 wks
90.2%
-
Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - St Marys Portsmouth South East South East 4 wks
93.7%
-
Nuffield Health Highgate Hospital London London 4 wks
94.0%
-
Practice Plus Group Hospital Birmingham Midlands Midlands 4 wks
91.6%
-
Thornbury Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 4 wks
81.4%
1
Clementine Churchill Hospital London London 5 wks
98.9%
-
Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - Gillingham South East South East 5 wks
93.2%
1
Kims Hospital (Newnham Court) South East South East 5 wks
94.9%
-
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 5 wks
91.7%
-
Nuffield Health Parkside Hospital London London 5 wks
93.1%
-
The Berkshire Independent Hospital South East South East 5 wks
87.0%
2
Sloane Hospital London London 5 wks
87.8%
-
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust London London 5 wks
90.2%
-
Mount Alvernia Hospital South East South East 6 wks
94.6%
-
Benenden Hospital South East South East 6 wks
84.4%
-
Spire Leicester Hospital Midlands Midlands 6 wks
91.2%
-
Spire Manchester Hospital North West North West 6 wks
91.2%
-
Duchy Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
92.5%
-
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 6 wks
78.4%
1
Huddersfield Private Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
95.1%
-
Meriden Hospital Midlands Midlands 6 wks
82.9%
-
Southend Private Hospital East of England East of England 6 wks
84.1%
-
Spire Methley Park Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
86.2%
-
Ridgeway Hospital South West South West 6 wks
90.8%
-
Nuffield Health, Chichester Hospital South East South East 6 wks
91.3%
-
Bath Clinic South West South West 6 wks
85.2%
-
The Hamptons Hospital Ltd East of England East of England 6 wks
73.7%
3
Lancaster Private Hospital North West North West 6 wks
92.0%
-
Probus Surgical Centre South West South West 6 wks
91.3%
-
Hendon Hospital London London 7 wks
86.3%
-
The New Foscote Hospital Ltd London London 7 wks
93.8%
-
South Tyneside And Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
83.3%
-
Tameside And Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 7 wks
77.4%
-
Chelsfield Park Hospital London London 7 wks
85.7%
-
Chiltern Hospital South East South East 7 wks
87.5%
-
Goring Hall Hospital South East South East 7 wks
75.0%
-
Tyneside Surgical Services Ltd North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
75.2%
1
The One Health Group Plc North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
91.2%
3
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust South West South West 7 wks
87.0%
-
Manchester Surgical Services Ltd North West North West 7 wks
94.1%
-
London Independent Hospital London London 7 wks
86.4%
2
Spire St Anthony's Hospital London London 7 wks
88.1%
3
Winterbourne Hospital South West South West 8 wks
90.7%
-
Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
81.1%
-
Chaucer Hospital South East South East 8 wks
71.1%
-
Runnymede Hospital South East South East 8 wks
78.3%
-
Spire Nottingham Hospital Midlands Midlands 8 wks
89.0%
-
Shirley Oaks Hospital London London 8 wks
74.6%
-
Spire Leeds Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
91.4%
-
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Emersons Green South West South West 8 wks
84.1%
-
Blackheath Hospital London London 8 wks
78.2%
1
Stourside Hospital Midlands Midlands 8 wks
79.8%
-
Nuffield Health, North Staffordshire Hospital Midlands Midlands 8 wks
81.6%
2
Woodlands Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
79.0%
1
Circle Reading Hospital South East South East 8 wks
77.3%
-
Buckshaw Hospital North West North West 8 wks
73.4%
-
North Cheshire And Mersey NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 8 wks
80.4%
2
Nuffield Health, Bristol Hospital (Chesterfield) South West South West 8 wks
83.3%
-
Spire Bushey Hospital East of England East of England 8 wks
87.1%
-
Fulwood Hall Hospital North West North West 8 wks
80.5%
-
The Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital Ltd South East South East 8 wks
78.3%
-
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Southampton South East South East 8 wks
84.8%
-
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Plymouth South West South West 8 wks
72.9%
1
Tetbury Hospital Trust Ltd South West South West 8 wks
80.0%
-
Spire Harpenden Hospital East of England East of England 8 wks
92.3%
1
New Hall Hospital South West South West 8 wks
86.5%
1
Tees Valley Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
75.3%
-
University Hospitals Bristol And Weston NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 8 wks
76.6%
-
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
79.4%
-
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
92.5%
-
One Ashford Hospital South East South East 9 wks
77.3%
1
Norwich & Norfolk Surgical Ltd (N2s) East of England East of England 9 wks
72.9%
-
Spire Cheshire Hospital North West North West 9 wks
78.3%
-
St Edmunds Hospital East of England East of England 9 wks
88.1%
-
Blakelands Hospital East of England East of England 9 wks
80.8%
1
Spire Alexandra Hospital South East South East 9 wks
90.1%
-
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Shepton Mallet South West South West 9 wks
78.2%
2
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
72.0%
26
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 9 wks
84.5%
-
Ashtead Hospital South East South East 9 wks
84.4%
1
Epsomedical Group South East South East 9 wks
80.0%
3
Nuffield Health, Derby Hospital Midlands Midlands 9 wks
69.0%
-
Duchy Hospital South West South West 9 wks
82.1%
-
Boston West Hospital Midlands Midlands 9 wks
74.8%
1
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 9 wks
86.3%
2
Calderdale And Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
73.5%
-
West Midlands Hospital Midlands Midlands 9 wks
87.5%
-
Nuffield Health, Hereford Hospital Midlands Midlands 9 wks
73.8%
-
Park Hospital Midlands Midlands 9 wks
75.5%
-
St Hugh's Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
81.0%
-
Oaklands Hospital North West North West 9 wks
77.1%
-
Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 9 wks
78.0%
4
Nuffield Health, Warwickshire Hospital Midlands Midlands 9 wks
74.1%
1
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
66.3%
49
The Shrewsbury And Telford Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
71.9%
-
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
68.9%
2
Fairfield Independent Hospital North West North West 10 wks
76.7%
2
Euxton Hall Hospital North West North West 10 wks
69.1%
1
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 10 wks
80.8%
-
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust South East South East 10 wks
68.7%
175
One Stop Doctors Limited East of England East of England 10 wks
73.3%
-
Harrogate And District NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
75.7%
-
The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
73.8%
25
Woodthorpe Hospital Midlands Midlands 10 wks
73.2%
-
Spire Washington Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
81.5%
1
Glendon Wood Hospital Midlands Midlands 10 wks
71.9%
-
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Barlborough Midlands Midlands 10 wks
79.3%
1
Highfield Hospital North West North West 10 wks
70.0%
-
Spire South Bank Hospital Midlands Midlands 10 wks
82.0%
-
Mount Stuart Hospital South West South West 10 wks
84.4%
-
The Westbourne Centre Midlands Midlands 10 wks
77.4%
-
Spire Little Aston Hospital Midlands Midlands 10 wks
74.2%
-
Maidstone And Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust South East South East 10 wks
71.3%
-
Pinehill Hospital East of England East of England 10 wks
69.1%
14
Spire Elland Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
69.7%
-
Sulis Hospital Bath (Foxcote Avenue) South West South West 10 wks
71.7%
2
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 10 wks
70.6%
25
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 11 wks
70.4%
16
Kings Oak Hospital London London 11 wks
68.3%
-
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust East of England East of England 11 wks
69.6%
24
Spire Murrayfield Hospital North West North West 11 wks
71.1%
2
Springfield Hospital East of England East of England 11 wks
70.3%
3
Spire Hartswood Hospital East of England East of England 11 wks
78.2%
-
United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
76.8%
14
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Ilford London London 11 wks
69.5%
8
Beardwood Hospital North West North West 11 wks
66.7%
-
Nuffield Health, Plymouth Hospital South West South West 11 wks
73.0%
-
Nuffield Health, Bournemouth Hospital South West South West 11 wks
79.6%
-
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 11 wks
69.3%
1
Spire Regency Hospital North West North West 11 wks
85.3%
-
North Downs Hospital South East South East 11 wks
71.7%
2
North Bristol NHS Trust South West South West 11 wks
71.9%
1
Spire Liverpool Hospital North West North West 11 wks
79.6%
1
East And North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust East of England East of England 11 wks
70.0%
3
Rowley Hall Hospital Midlands Midlands 11 wks
69.6%
-
Doncaster And Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 11 wks
68.3%
6
Spire Dunedin Hospital South East South East 11 wks
85.3%
1
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 11 wks
65.6%
12
Medway NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 11 wks
68.3%
2
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
64.7%
1
Spire Fylde Coast Hospital North West North West 12 wks
71.4%
-
Three Shires Hospital Midlands Midlands 12 wks
61.6%
1
Lewisham And Greenwich NHS Trust London London 12 wks
69.0%
109
Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
63.6%
4
Nuffield Health, Tees Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
69.4%
-
Wye Valley NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
65.0%
1
Woodland Hospital Midlands Midlands 12 wks
69.5%
-
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust London London 12 wks
69.4%
17
Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
68.6%
6
Ashford And St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 12 wks
74.9%
-
Nuffield Health The Holly Hospital East of England East of England 12 wks
65.0%
3
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 12 wks
63.8%
22
Countess Of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 12 wks
68.4%
5
Northern Lincolnshire And Goole NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
62.9%
73
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
63.1%
31
Barts Health NHS Trust London London 12 wks
65.6%
60
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 13 wks
62.0%
1
University Hospitals Of Leicester NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 13 wks
67.9%
76
Spire Gatwick Park Hospital South East South East 13 wks
69.9%
3
Spire Clare Park Hospital South East South East 13 wks
72.0%
-
Winfield Hospital South West South West 13 wks
62.3%
1
Mersey And West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North West North West 13 wks
64.1%
153
University Hospitals Of North Midlands NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 13 wks
61.9%
275
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust London London 13 wks
62.3%
7
County Durham And Darlington NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 13 wks
59.9%
209
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 13 wks
61.8%
33
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 13 wks
60.1%
211
The Yorkshire Clinic North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 13 wks
65.9%
4
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 13 wks
63.8%
14
Whittington Health NHS Trust London London 13 wks
62.6%
60
Rivers Hospital East of England East of England 13 wks
66.3%
4
University Hospitals Coventry And Warwickshire NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 13 wks
61.5%
295
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust North West North West 14 wks
60.6%
1
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust London London 14 wks
61.8%
17
Spire Wellesley Hospital East of England East of England 14 wks
67.6%
2
Sandwell And West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 14 wks
63.9%
22
Cavell Hospital London London 14 wks
60.7%
1
Norfolk And Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 14 wks
59.5%
106
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust South West South West 14 wks
60.2%
22
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 14 wks
60.8%
29
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 14 wks
60.6%
13
Alexandra Hospital North West North West 14 wks
58.2%
-
Beaumont Hospital North West North West 14 wks
60.4%
-
Manor Hospital East of England East of England 14 wks
61.7%
3
Saxon Clinic East of England East of England 14 wks
59.8%
1
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 14 wks
57.8%
477
Spire Parkway Hospital Midlands Midlands 14 wks
63.2%
2
North Tees And Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 14 wks
59.5%
49
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust London London 14 wks
60.0%
2
East Cheshire NHS Trust North West North West 14 wks
57.8%
25
The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 14 wks
58.2%
49
Dartford And Gravesham NHS Trust South East South East 14 wks
57.4%
402
Beacon Park Hospital Midlands Midlands 14 wks
59.5%
-
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 15 wks
58.0%
260
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 15 wks
63.7%
2
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 15 wks
61.0%
44
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 15 wks
59.5%
36
Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital East of England East of England 15 wks
69.5%
-
Spire Montefiore Hospital South East South East 15 wks
65.7%
3
One Hatfield Hospital East of England East of England 15 wks
74.0%
-
Epsom And St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust London London 15 wks
60.9%
52
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 15 wks
59.5%
-
Surrey And Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 15 wks
57.1%
96
University Hospitals Of Derby And Burton NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 15 wks
57.8%
131
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 15 wks
56.4%
46
Spire London East London London 15 wks
62.5%
12
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 15 wks
59.6%
32
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 15 wks
57.1%
60
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 15 wks
56.2%
-
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 16 wks
57.0%
-
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 16 wks
59.2%
19
Chelsea And Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 16 wks
56.6%
96
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust East of England East of England 16 wks
56.8%
19
Spire Hull And East Riding Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 16 wks
58.8%
-
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 16 wks
56.0%
4
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 16 wks
54.2%
59
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 16 wks
55.6%
13
Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - Devizes South West South West 16 wks
58.9%
-
Fitzwilliam Hospital East of England East of England 16 wks
55.1%
11
Guy's And St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust London London 16 wks
55.8%
6
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 16 wks
56.3%
7
Spire Norwich Hospital East of England East of England 16 wks
72.4%
-
Spencer Private Hospitals Ltd South East South East 16 wks
55.5%
2
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 17 wks
52.8%
32
East Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 17 wks
53.4%
3
Barking, Havering And Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust London London 17 wks
52.9%
181
Renacres Hospital North West North West 17 wks
51.5%
11
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 17 wks
52.2%
19
Oaks Hospital East of England East of England 17 wks
52.5%
-
Isle Of Wight NHS Trust South East South East 17 wks
52.2%
2
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 17 wks
51.7%
42
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 17 wks
51.0%
32
Nuffield Health, Brighton Hospital South East South East 18 wks
54.8%
-
Droitwich Spa Hospital Midlands Midlands 18 wks
50.8%
-
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 18 wks
50.8%
-
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 18 wks
50.5%
58
Kingston And Richmond NHS Foundation Trust London London 18 wks
50.7%
7
Cobalt Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 18 wks
50.3%
4
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 18 wks
50.3%
5
Nuffield Health, The Grosvenor Hospital, Chester North West North West 18 wks
48.7%
-
Nuffield Health, Exeter Hospital South West South West 18 wks
49.4%
3
University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 19 wks
48.5%
54
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 19 wks
48.3%
434
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 19 wks
48.0%
3
Mid And South Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 19 wks
47.6%
779
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 20 wks
44.8%
49
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 20 wks
47.7%
159
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 20 wks
45.7%
63
Spire Thames Valley Hospital South East South East 20 wks
45.9%
4
Wrightington, Wigan And Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 20 wks
45.8%
140
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 20 wks
45.9%
35
Hampshire Clinic South East South East 21 wks
44.1%
-
Claremont Private Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 21 wks
42.7%
10
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust London London 22 wks
41.7%
189
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 22 wks
41.6%
173
Lincoln Private Hospital Midlands Midlands 22 wks
40.6%
-
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 24 wks
39.9%
282
Nuffield Health, Cheltenham Hospital South West South West 24 wks
40.0%
3
Nuffield Health, Brentwood Hospital East of England East of England 26 wks
38.6%
6
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 27 wks
33.8%
311
Modality Llp Midlands Midlands 40 wks
4.8%
2

Patient experiences

Stories from people who've been through this department. (2 reviews)

A
Anonymous
May 2026
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

after second apinion went well

not good after first referal scanes ware a brace had dye put around vaines 9 mounths later had second refural with difrent doctor i already had ful knee and parsal we desided the full knee nead replacemen then do the right knee . last year had prostait problems and have been in pain in my right knee i have been refured again so how long will it be the day of my opp and over night stay 100%

A
Anonymous
May 2026
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

pain clinic lower back pain

that was OK. but I'm 19 months on and my pain has not be diagnosed yet and have had no treatment for pain relief yet. You have lumbar medial block then I've waited 13 months just for the next step in the procedure. Will I have to wait another year for actual injection for pain relief. ??
The waiting times are CRUEL. I actually hurt my back 2 years ago.
I'm a depressed and sad person now

Referred 2024-10-21 Waited ~20 weeks

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the NHS General Surgery waiting list?

The NHS General Surgery waiting list in England has about 382,281 patients currently waiting for treatment. The typical wait is around 12 weeks (nearly 3 months), based on data from 266 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 general surgeon 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 general surgeon. Nationally this currently averages about 12 weeks. In our data it ranges from as short as 3 weeks at the fastest hospital to 40 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 Surgery patients are seen within 18 weeks?

Across the NHS, 70% of General Surgery 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.