Ophthalmology (Eye Care) Waiting Times Across the NHS

The NHS Ophthalmology (Eye Care) waiting list in England has 620,723 patients currently waiting for treatment, with a typical wait of around 8 weeks across 316 hospitals. In practice, Ophthalmology (Eye Care) waiting times range from about 1 weeks at the fastest hospital to 21 weeks at the slowest. From GP referral to first Ophthalmology (Eye Care) appointment, most patients (92%) are seen within about 24 weeks; the NHS constitutional target is 18 weeks. 4,595 patients have been on the Ophthalmology (Eye Care) waiting list for more than a year. Waits for Ophthalmology (Eye Care) are about 0.8 week longer than in June 2025.

12-month change

Then vs now nationally

Jun 25→Jun 26
Typical wait
8.4weeks
â–² +0.8 wks
How long most people wait
Seen in 18 weeks
8in 10
No change
NHS aims to see everyone this fast
People waiting
621k
â–² +29k
On the waiting list right now
Waiting over a year
4.6k
â–¼ -4.2k
Been on the list for 12+ months
316
Hospitals you could choose from
8 weeks
How long most people wait
8 in 10
Seen within 18 weeks
4.6k
Have waited over a year

Common reasons for referral

Cataract surgery
Glaucoma treatment
Macular degeneration
Diabetic eye screening
Squint correction
Tear duct problems
Eyelid surgery
Laser eye treatment
Retinal detachment

National trend

Average ophthalmology (eye care) wait across England, month by month.

â–² +0.8 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%
-
Benenden Hospital South East South East 3 wks
88.0%
-
Spamedica Gloucester South West South West 3 wks
94.4%
-
The Berkshire Independent Hospital South East South East 3 wks
91.8%
-
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Plymouth South West South West 3 wks
98.3%
-
Norwich & Norfolk Surgical Ltd (N2s) East of England East of England 3 wks
98.3%
-
Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - St Marys Portsmouth South East South East 3 wks
97.2%
-
Bishops Wood Hospital London London 4 wks
91.3%
-
Aces Liverpool North West North West 4 wks
91.2%
-
Spamedica Bexhill South East South East 4 wks
94.3%
-
Anglia Community Eye Service - Thetford Healthy Living Centre East of England East of England 4 wks
97.0%
-
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Ilford London London 4 wks
99.3%
-
Spamedica Preston North West North West 4 wks
96.3%
-
Spamedica Newcastle-under-lyme Midlands Midlands 4 wks
96.7%
-
Spamedica Swindon South West South West 4 wks
94.3%
-
Spamedica Derby Midlands Midlands 4 wks
95.4%
-
Spamedica Wokingham South East South East 4 wks
90.5%
-
Spamedica Kendal North West North West 4 wks
94.4%
-
Aces Milton Keynes East of England East of England 4 wks
89.0%
-
Probus Surgical Centre South West South West 4 wks
98.7%
-
Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - Gillingham South East South East 4 wks
93.1%
-
Optegra Eye Hospital Maidstone South East South East 4 wks
100.0%
-
Spamedica Oxford South East South East 4 wks
92.7%
-
Spamedica Bristol South West South West 4 wks
96.0%
-
Spamedica Bedford East of England East of England 4 wks
91.7%
-
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Emersons Green South West South West 4 wks
92.6%
-
Spamedica Luton East of England East of England 4 wks
87.0%
-
Spamedica Epsom South East South East 4 wks
91.3%
-
Optegra Eye Hospital Brighton South East South East 4 wks
99.9%
-
Circle Reading Hospital South East South East 4 wks
79.6%
-
Spamedica Blackpool North West North West 4 wks
90.7%
-
Aces Chelmsford East of England East of England 4 wks
94.3%
-
Ashtead Hospital South East South East 4 wks
94.7%
1
Spamedica Bolton North West North West 5 wks
94.4%
-
Spamedica Chesterfield Midlands Midlands 5 wks
92.8%
-
London Independent Hospital London London 5 wks
97.0%
-
Newmedica - Worksop - Dukeries Midlands Midlands 5 wks
92.8%
-
Newmedica - Bristol - Litfield House South West South West 5 wks
85.6%
1
The Yorkshire Clinic North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 5 wks
94.8%
-
Spamedica Liverpool North West North West 5 wks
93.3%
-
Spamedica Chester North West North West 5 wks
94.2%
-
Anglia Community Eye Service Ltd East of England East of England 5 wks
93.1%
1
Spamedica Cambridge East of England East of England 5 wks
88.3%
-
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Southampton South East South East 5 wks
92.4%
-
Anglia Community Eye Service - Cambridge East of England East of England 5 wks
90.3%
-
Spamedica Haydock North West North West 5 wks
92.6%
2
Spamedica Peterborough East of England East of England 5 wks
87.4%
-
Woodthorpe Hospital Midlands Midlands 5 wks
92.3%
-
Spamedica Colchester East of England East of England 5 wks
92.7%
-
Spamedica Widnes North West North West 5 wks
92.4%
-
Spamedica Truro South West South West 5 wks
92.4%
-
Epsomedical Group South East South East 5 wks
97.6%
-
Newmedica - Nottingham Midlands Midlands 5 wks
92.5%
-
Independent Health Group South West South West 5 wks
100.0%
-
Chaucer Hospital South East South East 5 wks
89.7%
-
Spamedica Sittingbourne South East South East 5 wks
89.1%
-
Spamedica Skelmersdale North West North West 5 wks
93.1%
-
Spamedica Brighton South East South East 5 wks
88.3%
-
Spamedica Oldham North West North West 5 wks
90.3%
-
Anglia Community Eye Services Fakenham East of England East of England 5 wks
93.3%
-
Spamedica Guildford South East South East 6 wks
92.1%
-
Spamedica Wirral North West North West 6 wks
96.4%
-
Phoenix Health Solutions Limited HQ North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
100.0%
-
Aces Leeds King Street North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
97.1%
-
Optegra (Solent Eye Hospital) South East South East 6 wks
100.0%
-
Spamedica Dalston London London 6 wks
91.0%
-
Aces Newcastle North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
100.0%
-
Optegra (Surrey Eye Hospital) South East South East 6 wks
99.9%
-
Newcastle Newmedica Ltd North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
99.4%
-
Spamedica Chelmsford East of England East of England 6 wks
89.8%
1
Spamedica Doncaster North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
95.4%
-
Newmedica - North Derbyshire - Midland Court Midlands Midlands 6 wks
91.9%
-
Anglia Community Eye Service - Peterborough East of England East of England 6 wks
86.1%
1
Spamedica Birmingham Midlands Midlands 6 wks
91.3%
-
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Barlborough Midlands Midlands 6 wks
95.3%
-
Spamedica Sheffield Community Diagnostic & Treatment Centre North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
96.6%
-
Spamedica Sheffield North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
90.3%
-
Spamedica Poole South West South West 6 wks
93.0%
1
Spamedica Manchester North West North West 6 wks
86.3%
-
Spamedica Wembley London London 6 wks
84.8%
-
Optegra Eye Hospital Preston North West North West 6 wks
99.0%
-
Newmedica Suffolk - Bury St Edmunds - Clarity House East of England East of England 6 wks
94.0%
-
Spamedica Hull North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
96.7%
-
Calderdale And Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
90.2%
-
Epsom And St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust London London 6 wks
90.9%
1
Newmedica - Nottingham - Keyworth Midlands Midlands 6 wks
100.0%
-
Spamedica Hereford Diagnostic And Treatment Centre Midlands Midlands 6 wks
95.8%
-
Spamedica Newark Midlands Midlands 6 wks
93.4%
5
Spamedica Stockton-on-tees North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
89.0%
-
Aces Nottingham Midlands Midlands 6 wks
89.6%
-
Spamedica Norwich East of England East of England 6 wks
86.5%
-
Sulis Hospital Bath (Foxcote Avenue) South West South West 6 wks
93.1%
-
Tetbury Hospital Trust Ltd South West South West 7 wks
96.8%
-
Spamedica Eye Hospital (Wakefield) North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
93.1%
-
Optegra London Eye Hospital London London 7 wks
96.0%
-
Optegra Eye Hospital Nottingham Midlands Midlands 7 wks
100.0%
-
Spamedica Exeter South West South West 7 wks
88.6%
1
Spamedica Portsmouth South East South East 7 wks
78.4%
1
Nuffield Health The Holly Hospital East of England East of England 7 wks
83.3%
-
Wrightington, Wigan And Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 7 wks
85.2%
5
Optegra Eye Hospital Newcastle North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
98.7%
-
Blakelands Hospital East of England East of England 7 wks
87.4%
-
Spamedica Wolverhampton Midlands Midlands 7 wks
90.3%
-
Optegra Eye Hospital York North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
92.1%
-
Spamedica Worcester Midlands Midlands 7 wks
90.0%
-
Practice Plus Group Hospital - Shepton Mallet South West South West 7 wks
88.5%
7
Spamedica Coventry Midlands Midlands 7 wks
92.6%
1
Spamedica Watford East of England East of England 7 wks
91.7%
-
Spamedica Taunton South West South West 7 wks
86.9%
-
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust London London 7 wks
86.9%
-
Spamedica North Tyneside North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
88.7%
-
Spamedica Romford London London 7 wks
90.1%
-
Newmedica - Worcester Midlands Midlands 7 wks
81.7%
1
Optegra Eye Hospital Sheffield North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
97.4%
-
Spamedica Dorchester South West South West 7 wks
92.3%
-
Spamedica Leeds North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
93.7%
1
Optegra Eye Hospital West London London London 7 wks
95.9%
-
Ces Medical South East South East 7 wks
91.6%
-
Spamedica Bromley London London 7 wks
89.2%
1
Newmedica - Gloucester (Brighouse Court) South West South West 7 wks
85.9%
2
Woodlands Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
93.2%
-
St Hugh's Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
84.3%
-
Spamedica Gateshead North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
92.4%
-
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 7 wks
89.4%
-
North Downs Hospital South East South East 7 wks
83.9%
-
Stourside Hospital Midlands Midlands 7 wks
91.0%
-
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
83.7%
2
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 7 wks
84.9%
13
Shirley Oaks Hospital London London 7 wks
64.2%
-
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 7 wks
84.2%
2
Spamedica Telford Midlands Midlands 7 wks
92.6%
-
Plymouth Newmedica Ltd South West South West 7 wks
90.6%
-
Optegra (Birmingham Eye Hospital) Midlands Midlands 7 wks
95.0%
-
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust South West South West 7 wks
81.0%
9
Harrogate And District NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
80.6%
-
Spamedica Bradford North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
96.0%
-
Newmedica - Harrogate North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
90.1%
-
Newmedica - Langford South West South West 8 wks
80.5%
2
Aces Southampton South East South East 8 wks
93.8%
-
Aces Manchester North West North West 8 wks
77.6%
-
Newmedica - Birmingham Midlands Midlands 8 wks
95.6%
-
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 8 wks
82.4%
3
Optegra Eye Hospital Uttoxeter Midlands Midlands 8 wks
91.5%
-
Optegra (Manchester Eye Hospital) North West North West 8 wks
95.7%
-
Newmedica - Swindon Murdock Road South West South West 8 wks
85.5%
1
The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
81.2%
115
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 8 wks
88.5%
-
Barking, Havering And Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust London London 8 wks
86.6%
-
Spamedica Solihull Midlands Midlands 8 wks
86.9%
-
Spamedica Sale North West North West 8 wks
87.0%
1
Optegra Eye Hospital Leicester Midlands Midlands 8 wks
97.0%
-
Newmedica Aztec West South West South West 8 wks
73.1%
1
Newmedica - Ipswich East of England East of England 8 wks
96.2%
-
Optegra Eye Hospital Colchester East of England East of England 8 wks
93.7%
-
Somerset Surgical Services HQ South West South West 8 wks
89.9%
-
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
77.7%
-
Newmedica - Bradford & Huddersfield North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
89.2%
1
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 8 wks
82.4%
1
Spamedica Isle Of Wight Community Diagnostic & Treatment Centre South East South East 8 wks
81.5%
-
University Hospitals Bristol And Weston NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 8 wks
75.9%
3
Spamedica Croydon London London 8 wks
84.7%
-
The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
85.0%
-
Community Health And Eyecare Limited North West North West 8 wks
86.0%
3
Newmedica - Shrewsbury Midlands Midlands 8 wks
98.2%
-
Spamedica Carlisle North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
90.9%
-
Goring Hall Hospital South East South East 8 wks
87.0%
-
Guy's And St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust London London 8 wks
81.7%
-
Midland Eye (Eye-docs Ltd) Midlands Midlands 8 wks
96.0%
-
Aces White City London London 8 wks
85.9%
-
Glendon Wood Hospital Midlands Midlands 8 wks
89.3%
-
North Cheshire And Mersey NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 8 wks
87.8%
-
Newmedica - Manchester West North West North West 8 wks
82.6%
-
Northern Lincolnshire And Goole NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
79.3%
4
Newmedica Leicester Midlands Midlands 8 wks
89.6%
1
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 8 wks
79.1%
19
Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - Devizes South West South West 8 wks
82.9%
1
Rivers Hospital East of England East of England 8 wks
85.8%
-
Spamedica Leicester Midlands Midlands 8 wks
89.6%
-
Newmedica - Wakefield North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
85.0%
-
Pinehill Hospital East of England East of England 8 wks
80.6%
2
University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 8 wks
81.6%
41
Nuffield Health, Tees Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
84.7%
-
Newmedica - Teesside - North Ormesby North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
96.0%
-
Aces Dartford South East South East 8 wks
89.8%
1
Newmedica - Norwich East of England East of England 8 wks
88.1%
3
Newmedica Community Ophthalmology - Leeds North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
87.0%
-
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 8 wks
85.5%
-
Lincoln Private Hospital Midlands Midlands 8 wks
72.7%
-
Sandwell And West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 9 wks
80.0%
3
Spamedica Macclesfield Community Diagnostic & Treatment Centre North West North West 9 wks
93.8%
-
Newmedica - Darlington North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
94.5%
-
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust London London 9 wks
77.6%
3
Newmedica - Brigg - Riverside Surgery North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
80.4%
-
South Tyneside And Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
81.1%
-
Whittington Health NHS Trust London London 9 wks
80.9%
-
Clementine Churchill Hospital London London 9 wks
100.0%
-
Spamedica Southampton South East South East 9 wks
74.2%
17
East And North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust East of England East of England 9 wks
74.5%
24
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 9 wks
75.8%
1
Southend Private Hospital East of England East of England 9 wks
85.0%
-
Newmedica - Cheshire Oaks North West North West 9 wks
82.1%
-
Isight North West North West 9 wks
88.0%
1
Practice Plus Group Ophthalmology - North West North West North West 9 wks
92.6%
-
University Hospitals Of Leicester NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 9 wks
75.0%
27
Newmedica - Bromsgrove Midlands Midlands 9 wks
75.6%
-
Newmedica - Gloucester (Aspen Medical Centre) South West South West 9 wks
76.7%
1
Optegra Yorkshire Eye Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
89.0%
-
Maidstone And Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust South East South East 9 wks
77.5%
-
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 9 wks
86.7%
-
Fitzwilliam Hospital East of England East of England 9 wks
87.3%
-
Surrey And Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 9 wks
77.4%
1
Hendon Hospital London London 9 wks
77.0%
1
Newmedica - Exeter - Glen House South West South West 9 wks
93.9%
-
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
80.9%
-
Fulwood Hall Hospital North West North West 9 wks
88.5%
-
Kingston And Richmond NHS Foundation Trust London London 9 wks
80.1%
-
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
82.8%
2
York And Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
71.2%
31
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
75.3%
-
Boston West Hospital Midlands Midlands 10 wks
86.0%
-
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
77.1%
5
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 10 wks
74.3%
24
Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
79.8%
-
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 10 wks
71.3%
2
Newmedica Community Ophthalmology - North East Lincolnshire - Grimsby North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
79.6%
1
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 10 wks
84.8%
2
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 10 wks
74.6%
1
The Stoneygate Eye Hospital Midlands Midlands 10 wks
84.1%
-
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 10 wks
75.1%
-
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
77.8%
-
Wye Valley NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
77.0%
1
Nuffield Health, Wolverhampton Hospital Midlands Midlands 10 wks
86.1%
-
Newmedica - Northampton Midlands Midlands 10 wks
85.7%
-
Ridgeway Hospital South West South West 10 wks
77.4%
1
Newmedica - Oxfordshire South East South East 10 wks
81.6%
1
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 10 wks
76.0%
-
Aces Bristol South West South West 10 wks
78.9%
-
Mersey And West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North West North West 11 wks
72.6%
13
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 11 wks
70.5%
29
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
71.9%
5
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust North West North West 11 wks
67.2%
37
The Shrewsbury And Telford Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
75.5%
-
Newmedica - Hertforshire - Welwyn Garden City East of England East of England 11 wks
76.9%
-
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust South West South West 11 wks
69.3%
37
Doncaster And Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 11 wks
67.9%
12
Aces Exeter South West South West 11 wks
77.3%
-
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 11 wks
69.2%
44
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 11 wks
70.5%
6
Droitwich Spa Hospital Midlands Midlands 11 wks
70.0%
-
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 11 wks
72.6%
3
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 11 wks
73.2%
2
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 11 wks
72.1%
3
Dorking Healthcare Limited (Dhc) South East South East 11 wks
73.0%
-
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust East of England East of England 11 wks
71.5%
40
Barts Health NHS Trust London London 11 wks
68.0%
2
United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
72.8%
1
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 11 wks
69.3%
27
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 11 wks
69.3%
-
Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
68.8%
16
County Durham And Darlington NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
67.3%
20
Countess Of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 12 wks
67.7%
7
Nuffield Health, Shrewsbury Hospital Midlands Midlands 12 wks
90.4%
-
New Hall Hospital South West South West 12 wks
74.5%
-
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
70.3%
5
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
65.8%
28
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust London London 12 wks
66.8%
1
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
65.6%
4
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 12 wks
64.5%
42
Newmedica - Berkshire South East South East 12 wks
67.2%
4
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
68.2%
2
Ashford And St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 12 wks
68.2%
8
Bath Clinic South West South West 12 wks
70.6%
-
East Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
67.7%
-
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 12 wks
62.6%
159
University Hospitals Of Derby And Burton NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
66.6%
78
Fairfield Independent Hospital North West North West 12 wks
67.4%
-
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 13 wks
63.5%
56
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 13 wks
63.2%
83
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 13 wks
68.8%
75
Norfolk And Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 13 wks
66.3%
44
East Cheshire NHS Trust North West North West 13 wks
65.6%
20
Deeping Surgical Midlands Midlands 13 wks
73.1%
-
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 13 wks
65.0%
57
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 13 wks
61.6%
21
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 13 wks
62.3%
295
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 13 wks
64.0%
453
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 13 wks
62.8%
160
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust East of England East of England 13 wks
62.7%
32
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 14 wks
61.3%
139
Border Health Alliance Limited Midlands Midlands 14 wks
64.1%
-
Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 14 wks
61.7%
3
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 14 wks
62.5%
26
Newmedica - Berkshire - Bracknell South East South East 14 wks
76.6%
-
Nuffield Health, North Staffordshire Hospital Midlands Midlands 14 wks
64.5%
2
Blackheath Hospital London London 14 wks
57.5%
-
Chelsea And Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 14 wks
64.9%
51
Mid And South Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 14 wks
60.2%
458
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 14 wks
60.4%
42
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 14 wks
61.7%
14
Cora Health Diagnostics (Formerly Healthshare Diagnostics) South East South East 14 wks
63.0%
3
Isle Of Wight NHS Trust South East South East 14 wks
58.8%
-
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust South East South East 14 wks
58.7%
139
Newmedica - Lincoln Midlands Midlands 15 wks
74.2%
-
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 15 wks
61.1%
5
Newmedica - Hampshire South East South East 15 wks
56.4%
43
Oaks Hospital East of England East of England 15 wks
64.0%
-
University Hospitals Of North Midlands NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 15 wks
56.7%
207
Claremont Private Hospital North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 16 wks
61.9%
-
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 16 wks
55.3%
206
University Hospitals Coventry And Warwickshire NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 16 wks
54.0%
201
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 16 wks
53.6%
309
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 16 wks
54.7%
181
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 17 wks
51.8%
220
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 18 wks
50.5%
-
Beacon Park Hospital Midlands Midlands 20 wks
42.9%
-
Mount Stuart Hospital South West South West 21 wks
39.3%
2

Patient experiences

Stories from people who've been through this department. (1 review)

A
Anonymous
Jun 2026
New Hall Hospital

Still waiting and no idea when I will be treated.

Offered an appointment by phone on 27 April for 8 May which I had to decline as I had a Day Surgery appointment at the local hospital to check for cancer on the same day. (This appointment was already outside the anticipated 2 week wait and I waited over a month in the end...ironically this date was brought forward with 12 hour's notice ...so could have attended both appointments.
New Hall booking team vaguely commented that they would be in touch but after another 6 weeks I had to contact them and I believe my name had been removed from the surgery list. I cannot be sure as there is no information forthcoming about what happened or when I may be treated now. I've made a formal complaint but progress is slow as staff contact me then take a days leave My sight was poor anyway without "significant" cataracts in both eyes and it's got worse so daily living tasks (I live on my own) have become extremely difficult to manage. I would prefer it if people were honest...how can someone be called surgery...and still not have a replacement date two months later.? I was put in an impossible position..I am an NHS patient and would hope the clash of appointments showed up whichever hospital was involved. I feel I don't matter....I know I don't cos there will be another NHS funded patient being treated my place and Ramsay will get their fee.

Referred 2026-01-21

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the NHS Ophthalmology (Eye Care) waiting list?

The NHS Ophthalmology (Eye Care) waiting list in England has about 620,723 patients currently waiting for treatment. The typical wait is around 8 weeks (2 months), based on data from 316 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 ophthalmologist 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 ophthalmologist. Nationally this currently averages about 8 weeks. In our data it ranges from as short as 1 weeks at the fastest hospital to 21 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 Ophthalmology (Eye Care) patients are seen within 18 weeks?

Across the NHS, 83% of Ophthalmology (Eye Care) 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.