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

Rheumatology Waiting Times Across the NHS

The NHS Rheumatology waiting list in England has 118,092 patients currently waiting for treatment, with a typical wait of around 11 weeks across 121 hospitals. In practice, Rheumatology waiting times range from about 3 weeks at the fastest hospital to 29 weeks at the slowest. From GP referral to first Rheumatology appointment, most patients (92%) are seen within about 27 weeks; the NHS constitutional target is 18 weeks. 1,065 patients have been on the Rheumatology waiting list for more than a year. Waits for Rheumatology haven't really changed since August 2025.

12-month change

Then vs now nationally

Aug 25→Aug 26
Typical wait
10.5weeks
â–¼ -0.4 wks
How long most people wait
Seen in 18 weeks
8in 10
â–² +2.2 pts
NHS aims to see everyone this fast
People waiting
118k
â–¼ -5.7k
On the waiting list right now
Waiting over a year
1.1k
â–¼ -328
Been on the list for 12+ months
121
Hospitals you could choose from
11 weeks
How long most people wait
8 in 10
Seen within 18 weeks
1.1k
Have waited over a year

Common reasons for referral

Rheumatoid arthritis
Osteoarthritis management
Lupus (SLE)
Fibromyalgia
Gout
Ankylosing spondylitis
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Joint injections
Connective tissue diseases

National trend

Average rheumatology wait across England, month by month.

â–¼ -0.4 wks

All hospitals

Hospital Region Wait Within 18 Wks 52+ Wk
Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 3 wks
99.0%
-
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 4 wks
99.5%
-
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 4 wks
100.0%
-
Maidstone And Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust South East South East 4 wks
100.0%
-
Portsmouth Hospitals University National Health Service Trust South East South East 5 wks
97.9%
-
Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 5 wks
99.3%
-
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 5 wks
91.9%
3
South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 5 wks
97.8%
-
Whittington Health NHS Trust London London 6 wks
97.4%
-
Guy's And St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust London London 6 wks
95.5%
-
University Hospitals Coventry And Warwickshire NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 6 wks
96.8%
-
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 6 wks
100.0%
-
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust South West South West 6 wks
94.7%
-
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 6 wks
93.5%
-
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust London London 6 wks
96.3%
-
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 6 wks
88.8%
-
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 6 wks
88.2%
-
Harrogate And District NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 7 wks
92.1%
-
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 7 wks
87.2%
2
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 7 wks
89.2%
-
Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 7 wks
92.5%
1
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 7 wks
91.8%
-
Manchester Surgical Services Ltd North West North West 7 wks
89.7%
-
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 7 wks
85.8%
-
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 8 wks
91.7%
-
The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
90.0%
-
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 8 wks
85.1%
-
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
84.0%
-
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust London London 8 wks
86.0%
-
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
84.9%
-
Wrightington, Wigan And Leigh NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 8 wks
85.5%
1
Sandwell And West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
92.8%
-
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 8 wks
79.1%
-
Tameside And Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 8 wks
95.4%
-
Epsomedical Group South East South East 8 wks
83.3%
-
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
86.7%
-
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
85.9%
-
The Robert Jones And Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
94.6%
-
York And Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 8 wks
83.8%
-
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 8 wks
87.0%
2
Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
81.3%
-
University Hospitals Of Derby And Burton NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 8 wks
88.4%
-
Lewisham And Greenwich NHS Trust London London 8 wks
80.8%
-
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust London London 8 wks
84.8%
-
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 8 wks
90.8%
-
Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
76.0%
-
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
75.5%
-
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 9 wks
90.4%
-
Dorking Healthcare Limited (Dhc) South East South East 9 wks
91.8%
-
Isle Of Wight NHS Trust South East South East 9 wks
70.0%
-
The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
93.5%
-
Royal Devon And Exeter NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 9 wks
81.4%
-
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 9 wks
88.0%
-
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 9 wks
77.9%
1
Calderdale And Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 9 wks
76.7%
-
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 10 wks
77.1%
-
Connect Health Limited North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 10 wks
85.8%
-
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 10 wks
78.7%
-
Medefer London London 10 wks
84.4%
-
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 10 wks
76.3%
-
Countess Of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 10 wks
83.8%
-
Barts Health NHS Trust London London 10 wks
75.3%
-
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 10 wks
82.5%
-
Wye Valley NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 10 wks
88.0%
-
Epsom And St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust London London 10 wks
80.3%
3
Surrey And Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust South East South East 10 wks
75.1%
5
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust East of England East of England 10 wks
74.8%
-
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 10 wks
68.9%
2
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 11 wks
78.4%
-
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 11 wks
73.1%
-
North Tees And Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 11 wks
82.2%
-
Doncaster And Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 11 wks
71.1%
-
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 11 wks
87.4%
-
Norfolk And Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 11 wks
72.9%
-
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Midlands Midlands 11 wks
73.5%
7
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 11 wks
77.6%
-
Chelsea And Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London London 11 wks
76.6%
-
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 11 wks
74.7%
26
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 11 wks
76.0%
1
South Tyneside And Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 11 wks
74.4%
-
University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 11 wks
66.5%
17
University Hospitals Bristol And Weston NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 11 wks
66.9%
-
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 11 wks
68.1%
-
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
81.2%
-
Ashford And St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 12 wks
64.8%
-
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust North West North West 12 wks
66.5%
-
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 12 wks
67.9%
-
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
73.4%
1
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 12 wks
63.7%
1
Nuffield Health The Holly Hospital East of England East of England 12 wks
66.0%
3
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London London 13 wks
64.2%
14
Barking, Havering And Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust London London 13 wks
67.5%
-
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust London London 13 wks
66.7%
-
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust East of England East of England 13 wks
66.8%
3
St Helens And Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North West North West 13 wks
64.2%
14
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 13 wks
62.5%
1
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 13 wks
63.4%
-
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 13 wks
66.7%
-
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 13 wks
61.6%
6
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 14 wks
66.0%
-
Warrington And Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 14 wks
56.7%
-
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 14 wks
61.9%
-
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 14 wks
59.7%
1
Healthshare Diagnostics East of England East of England 14 wks
67.0%
1
East Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 14 wks
58.0%
-
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 15 wks
57.1%
15
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust South West South West 15 wks
56.7%
19
East And North Hertfordshire NHS Trust East of England East of England 15 wks
57.7%
1
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust London London 16 wks
57.0%
-
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 16 wks
54.4%
4
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 16 wks
54.0%
7
Modality Llp Midlands Midlands 16 wks
52.2%
-
University Hospitals Of Leicester NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 17 wks
52.1%
34
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust North West North West 18 wks
50.7%
62
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust Midlands Midlands 18 wks
49.1%
10
Northern Lincolnshire And Goole NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 19 wks
47.3%
-
County Durham And Darlington NHS Foundation Trust North East and Yorkshire North East and Yorkshire 20 wks
44.6%
95
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 20 wks
45.1%
74
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 22 wks
43.3%
67
Mid And South Essex NHS Foundation Trust East of England East of England 22 wks
44.7%
231
Medway NHS Foundation Trust South East South East 29 wks
32.1%
330

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the NHS Rheumatology waiting list?

The NHS Rheumatology waiting list in England has about 118,092 patients currently waiting for treatment. The typical wait is around 11 weeks (2½ months), based on data from 121 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 rheumatologist 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 rheumatologist. Nationally this currently averages about 11 weeks. In our data it ranges from as short as 3 weeks at the fastest hospital to 29 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 Rheumatology patients are seen within 18 weeks?

Across the NHS, 77% of Rheumatology 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.