Respiratory Medicine Waiting Times Across the NHS

The NHS Respiratory Medicine waiting list in England has 187,683 patients currently waiting for treatment, with a typical wait of around 10 weeks across 124 hospitals. In practice, Respiratory Medicine waiting times range from about 4 weeks at the fastest hospital to 19 weeks at the slowest. From GP referral to first Respiratory Medicine appointment, most patients (92%) are seen within about 27 weeks; the NHS constitutional target is 18 weeks. 588 patients have been on the Respiratory Medicine waiting list for more than a year. Waits for Respiratory Medicine are about 2.5 weeks shorter than in April 2025.

12-month change

Then vs now nationally

Apr 25→Apr 26
Typical wait
9.6weeks
â–¼ -2.5 wks
How long most people wait
Seen in 18 weeks
8in 10
â–² +10 pts
NHS aims to see everyone this fast
People waiting
188k
â–¼ -25k
On the waiting list right now
Waiting over a year
588
â–¼ -2.3k
Been on the list for 12+ months
124
Hospitals you could choose from
10 weeks
How long most people wait
8 in 10
Seen within 18 weeks
588
Have waited over a year

Common reasons for referral

Asthma management
COPD treatment
Sleep apnoea assessment
Lung function tests (spirometry)
Pulmonary fibrosis
Persistent cough investigation
Breathlessness assessment
Pleural effusion drainage
Bronchoscopy

National trend

Average respiratory medicine wait across England, month by month.

â–¼ -2.5 wks

All hospitals

Hospital Region Wait Within 18 Wks 52+ Wk
North Bristol NHS Trust South West South West 4 wks
98.4%
-
Hampshire And Isle Of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 4 wks
100.0%
-
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust North West North West 4 wks
96.9%
-
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust London London 4 wks
98.2%
-
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust London London 5 wks
94.2%
-
Countess Of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 5 wks
83.3%
-
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 5 wks
96.5%
-
The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 5 wks
89.8%
-
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 6 wks
94.7%
-
East And North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust East of England East of England 6 wks
91.7%
-
Liverpool Heart And Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 6 wks
92.9%
-
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 6 wks
89.7%
-
Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 6 wks
94.1%
-
The Yorkshire Clinic North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
98.5%
-
University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 6 wks
92.5%
-
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust South East South East 6 wks
97.5%
-
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 6 wks
89.2%
-
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 6 wks
90.1%
-
Barking, Havering And Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust London London 7 wks
94.2%
-
Whittington Health NHS Trust London London 7 wks
91.3%
-
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 7 wks
95.1%
-
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 7 wks
90.3%
-
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 7 wks
88.7%
-
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 7 wks
96.2%
-
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 7 wks
96.1%
-
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 7 wks
88.7%
-
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 7 wks
88.8%
1
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 7 wks
86.0%
-
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 7 wks
92.2%
3
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
83.9%
-
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 7 wks
89.7%
-
Harrogate And District NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
93.4%
-
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 7 wks
82.5%
1
Dorking Healthcare Limited (Dhc) South East South East 7 wks
89.7%
-
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
92.1%
-
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
86.2%
1
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 8 wks
92.7%
-
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
83.8%
7
Sandwell And West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
92.6%
1
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
88.5%
-
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
95.8%
-
North Tees And Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
72.0%
4
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 8 wks
84.5%
1
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 8 wks
89.1%
-
Lewisham And Greenwich NHS Trust London London 8 wks
82.3%
-
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 8 wks
74.1%
-
The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
94.4%
-
Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 9 wks
89.8%
-
University Hospitals Of Derby And Burton NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 9 wks
80.1%
2
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 9 wks
78.7%
1
Wye Valley NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 9 wks
79.9%
11
East Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 9 wks
72.4%
-
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust London London 9 wks
79.6%
-
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 9 wks
77.4%
2
Calderdale And Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
79.5%
-
South Tyneside And Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
76.9%
-
University Hospitals Of Leicester NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 9 wks
79.3%
-
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 9 wks
77.1%
-
Chelsea And Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 9 wks
84.6%
-
Tameside And Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 9 wks
90.0%
-
University Hospitals Bristol And Weston NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 9 wks
70.7%
-
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 9 wks
75.8%
9
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust East of England East of England 9 wks
78.0%
-
Maidstone And Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust South East South East 9 wks
76.8%
-
Mersey And West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North West North West 9 wks
78.0%
-
Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 10 wks
78.4%
-
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust South West South West 10 wks
71.7%
4
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust South West South West 10 wks
81.9%
-
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 10 wks
77.2%
1
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 10 wks
73.0%
31
Wrightington, Wigan And Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 10 wks
72.5%
-
Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
76.0%
-
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 10 wks
74.2%
-
University Hospitals Coventry And Warwickshire NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
73.8%
-
North Cheshire And Mersey NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 10 wks
74.6%
-
Kingston And Richmond NHS Foundation Trust London London 10 wks
70.8%
-
Northern Lincolnshire And Goole NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
67.9%
40
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
76.6%
-
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 11 wks
79.3%
1
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
76.5%
1
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust London London 11 wks
75.2%
11
Surrey And Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 11 wks
73.2%
-
University Hospitals Of North Midlands NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
74.3%
-
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 11 wks
83.5%
-
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
68.7%
1
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 11 wks
72.8%
1
Ashford And St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 11 wks
71.3%
2
Epsom And St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust London London 11 wks
67.2%
37
Norfolk And Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 11 wks
66.3%
3
Dartford And Gravesham NHS Trust South East South East 11 wks
68.4%
-
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 11 wks
69.7%
-
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 11 wks
69.5%
7
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 11 wks
65.1%
15
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 12 wks
65.9%
13
Barts Health NHS Trust London London 12 wks
68.7%
9
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 12 wks
71.2%
-
The Shrewsbury And Telford Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
69.5%
-
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
70.1%
-
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 12 wks
66.5%
-
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
67.2%
-
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
66.4%
12
County Durham And Darlington NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 12 wks
65.5%
-
Guy's And St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust London London 12 wks
62.4%
52
Isle Of Wight NHS Trust South East South East 12 wks
66.3%
-
Epsomedical Group South East South East 12 wks
58.8%
-
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 13 wks
58.9%
1
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 13 wks
62.6%
6
Mid And South Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 13 wks
65.0%
16
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust London London 13 wks
61.5%
-
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 13 wks
64.3%
3
Medway NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 13 wks
60.0%
-
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 14 wks
64.5%
2
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 14 wks
57.8%
-
United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 14 wks
57.5%
40
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 14 wks
57.3%
-
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 15 wks
55.9%
1
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 15 wks
56.3%
50
Doncaster And Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 15 wks
55.3%
-
York And Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 15 wks
54.1%
16
Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 16 wks
61.1%
-
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 17 wks
50.7%
16
The Hamptons Hospital Ltd East of England East of England 18 wks
50.3%
-
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 18 wks
50.1%
57
East Cheshire NHS Trust North West North West 19 wks
47.6%
95

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the NHS Respiratory Medicine waiting list?

The NHS Respiratory Medicine waiting list in England has about 187,683 patients currently waiting for treatment. The typical wait is around 10 weeks (just over 2 months), based on data from 124 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 respiratory 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 respiratory consultant. Nationally this currently averages about 10 weeks. In our data it ranges from as short as 4 weeks at the fastest hospital to 19 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 Respiratory Medicine patients are seen within 18 weeks?

Across the NHS, 78% of Respiratory 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.