NHS General Surgery Referral Waiting Times in London

Barts Health NHS Trust

Updated February 2026

The typical wait to see a general surgeon is

17 weeks

That's 4 months

The NHS General Surgery waiting list at Barts Health NHS Trust currently has 5,244 patients waiting, with a typical wait of around 17 weeks from GP referral. About 5 in 10 General Surgery patients here are seen within 18 weeks (the NHS constitutional target is 9 in 10). 154 have been waiting over a year. Barts Health NHS Trust is an NHS Trust in the London region. Waits at this hospital haven't really changed since February 2025. It's slipped down 11 places in the national league for this department's; now 224 out of 269 hospitals.

12-month change

Then vs now for this department at this hospital

Feb 25→Feb 26
Typical wait
16.9weeks
No change
How long most people wait
Seen in 18 weeks
5in 10
▲ +0.7 pts
NHS aims to see everyone this fast
People waiting
5.2k
▲ +1.1k
On the waiting list right now
Waiting over a year
154
No change
Been on the list for 12+ months
5 in 10
seen within 18 weeks
The NHS tries to treat everyone this fast
5,244
people waiting right now
Currently on this department's list
45 weeks
long-wait time
About 1 in 12 people wait this long or longer
154 people
have waited over a year
Been on the list for 12+ months
1,690 people
waiting for a surgery date
Already been told they need an operation

Long waiter breakdown

Of those waiting over a year, here's how long they've been waiting:

153waiting 1 to 1.25 years (52 to 65 weeks)
1waiting 1.25 to 1.5 years (65 to 78 weeks)

Wait time over time

Median wait for this department, with the national average as a dashed line.

No change

How long are people waiting?

Distribution of patients by how many weeks they've been on the waiting list.

How does this compare?

The national average wait to see a general surgeon is about 13 weeks. This hospital is slower than the national average.

Hospital ranking

Ranked 224th out of 269 hospitals nationally for this department

Ranked 29th out of 34 in London

What does General Surgery cover?

Common conditions and procedures for this department:

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

Hospital contact

Main hospital switchboard. ask to be connected to the department.

The Royal London Hospital, London, E1 2ES
Visit website
NHS North East London Integrated Care Board

Patient experiences

People who used this department at this hospital.

No reviews yet. Be the first to leave one.

Other departments at this hospital

View all departments

Compare this department at other hospitals

Compare hospitals

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the NHS General Surgery waiting list at Barts Health NHS Trust?

Barts Health NHS Trust currently has about 5,244 patients on its General Surgery waiting list. The typical wait from GP referral to first appointment is around 17 weeks.

Does Barts Health NHS Trust meet the NHS 18-week target for General Surgery?

About 52% of General Surgery patients at Barts Health NHS Trust are currently seen within 18 weeks of GP referral. The NHS constitutional target is 92%.

Can I choose a different hospital if the General Surgery wait is too long?

Yes. Under the NHS Constitution, patients in England can ask their GP to refer them to any hospital that provides NHS care. Use WaitRadar to compare General Surgery waiting times at other NHS hospitals near you before accepting a referral.

Source: NHS England RTT statistics. about our methodology

This is informational data, not medical advice. Always discuss referral options with your GP. Full disclaimer.