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

Respiratory Medicine Waiting Times Across the NHS

The NHS Respiratory Medicine waiting list in England has 182,130 patients currently waiting for treatment, with a typical wait of around 10 weeks across 122 hospitals. In practice, Respiratory Medicine waiting times range from about 3 weeks at the fastest hospital to 23 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. 535 patients have been on the Respiratory Medicine waiting list for more than a year. Waits for Respiratory Medicine are about 2.1 weeks shorter than in August 2025.

12-month change

Then vs now nationally

Aug 25→Aug 26
Typical wait
10weeks
â–¼ -2.1 wks
How long most people wait
Seen in 18 weeks
8in 10
â–² +9 pts
NHS aims to see everyone this fast
People waiting
182k
â–¼ -14k
On the waiting list right now
Waiting over a year
535
â–¼ -2.1k
Been on the list for 12+ months
122
Hospitals you could choose from
10 weeks
How long most people wait
8 in 10
Seen within 18 weeks
535
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 -2.1 wks

All hospitals

Hospital Region Wait Within 18 Wks 52+ Wk
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 3 wks
100.0%
-
Harrogate And District NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 4 wks
92.9%
-
Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 4 wks
98.0%
-
The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 5 wks
94.8%
-
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 5 wks
94.0%
-
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust North West North West 5 wks
97.3%
-
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 5 wks
94.1%
-
Liverpool Heart And Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 5 wks
94.5%
-
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust London London 6 wks
98.1%
1
Barking, Havering And Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust London London 6 wks
95.6%
1
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 6 wks
86.6%
-
The Hamptons Hospital Ltd East of England East of England 6 wks
83.9%
-
Portsmouth Hospitals University National Health Service Trust South East South East 6 wks
96.9%
-
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 7 wks
88.0%
-
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 7 wks
91.1%
-
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 7 wks
88.6%
3
East And North Hertfordshire NHS Trust East of England East of England 7 wks
91.3%
-
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 7 wks
91.0%
-
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 7 wks
87.6%
-
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 7 wks
88.0%
-
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 7 wks
92.3%
-
Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 7 wks
92.9%
1
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 7 wks
96.2%
-
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 7 wks
89.9%
-
University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 7 wks
90.6%
1
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 7 wks
92.3%
1
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 7 wks
92.4%
-
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 7 wks
80.5%
-
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 8 wks
90.2%
-
Whittington Health NHS Trust London London 8 wks
90.1%
-
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 8 wks
89.1%
-
University Hospitals Bristol And Weston NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 8 wks
81.3%
-
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 8 wks
82.9%
2
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 8 wks
87.6%
-
Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 8 wks
87.1%
-
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
90.2%
-
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust East of England East of England 8 wks
87.7%
-
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
94.0%
-
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 8 wks
90.8%
3
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
88.0%
-
Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
78.2%
-
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
93.0%
-
Calderdale And Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
83.3%
-
The Yorkshire Clinic North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
90.1%
-
East Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 9 wks
82.3%
-
Isle Of Wight NHS Trust South East South East 9 wks
87.0%
-
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 9 wks
85.6%
-
Chelsea And Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 9 wks
84.2%
-
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 9 wks
82.3%
-
The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
90.8%
-
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust East of England East of England 9 wks
75.8%
-
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust London London 9 wks
81.5%
-
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 9 wks
81.2%
48
Countess Of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 9 wks
79.0%
-
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 9 wks
86.4%
-
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
82.6%
-
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 9 wks
81.5%
-
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 9 wks
82.5%
1
South Tyneside And Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
75.9%
-
Epsom And St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust London London 9 wks
75.6%
15
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 9 wks
83.9%
-
St Helens And Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North West North West 10 wks
81.1%
-
The Shrewsbury And Telford Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
70.4%
-
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 10 wks
76.2%
8
Tameside And Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 10 wks
83.9%
-
Sandwell And West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
81.7%
-
Lewisham And Greenwich NHS Trust London London 10 wks
84.1%
-
Surrey And Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 10 wks
73.6%
-
University Hospitals Of Leicester NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
82.4%
-
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
70.9%
-
Royal Devon And Exeter NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 10 wks
71.8%
3
University Hospitals Of Derby And Burton NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
72.4%
-
Warrington And Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 11 wks
75.2%
-
Wye Valley NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
77.4%
14
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 11 wks
70.2%
-
Northern Lincolnshire And Goole NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 11 wks
73.0%
7
Barts Health NHS Trust London London 11 wks
71.0%
2
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 11 wks
72.3%
5
Epsomedical Group South East South East 11 wks
64.9%
2
Dorking Healthcare Limited (Dhc) South East South East 11 wks
80.3%
-
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 11 wks
79.5%
-
East Cheshire NHS Trust North West North West 11 wks
70.8%
7
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
74.8%
-
Maidstone And Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust South East South East 11 wks
78.3%
-
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust South West South West 11 wks
73.6%
-
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust London London 11 wks
71.4%
17
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 11 wks
71.9%
22
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 11 wks
72.5%
-
University Hospitals Of North Midlands NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
71.5%
1
University Hospitals Coventry And Warwickshire NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
72.0%
-
Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 12 wks
66.7%
-
Wrightington, Wigan And Leigh NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 12 wks
66.7%
1
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 12 wks
71.7%
4
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
70.1%
3
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
70.5%
-
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 12 wks
72.1%
-
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 12 wks
66.2%
17
Ashford And St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 13 wks
68.7%
2
Dartford And Gravesham NHS Trust South East South East 13 wks
68.3%
-
County Durham And Darlington NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 13 wks
63.8%
1
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 13 wks
67.7%
8
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 13 wks
64.3%
17
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 13 wks
65.3%
1
North Tees And Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 13 wks
61.0%
2
Mid And South Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 13 wks
63.0%
22
Guy's And St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust London London 13 wks
61.5%
3
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 13 wks
61.9%
-
Norfolk And Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 14 wks
62.8%
1
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 14 wks
63.4%
-
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 14 wks
65.3%
4
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 14 wks
89.7%
-
Medway NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 14 wks
55.9%
-
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 14 wks
59.5%
11
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 14 wks
58.2%
-
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 15 wks
59.1%
4
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust London London 15 wks
60.2%
3
Doncaster And Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 17 wks
53.2%
2
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 17 wks
50.8%
-
Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 19 wks
46.2%
-
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 20 wks
44.7%
93
York And Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 21 wks
43.7%
87
South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 23 wks
42.6%
84

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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 182,130 patients currently waiting for treatment. The typical wait is around 10 weeks (just over 2 months), based on data from 122 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 3 weeks at the fastest hospital to 23 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.