NHS General Surgery Referral Waiting Times in Colchester

East Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Updated June 2026

The typical wait to see a general surgeon is

17 weeks

That's 4 months

The NHS General Surgery waiting list at East Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust currently has 5,974 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). 3 have been waiting over a year. East Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust is an NHS Foundation Trust in the East of England region. Waits at this hospital haven't really changed since June 2025. It's slipped down 8 places in the national league for this department's; now 230 out of 266 hospitals.

12-month change

Then vs now for this department at this hospital

Jun 25Jun 26
Typical wait
16.7weeks
▼ -0.3 wks
How long most people wait
Seen in 18 weeks
5in 10
▲ +1.1 pts
NHS aims to see everyone this fast
People waiting
6k
▼ -7.5k
On the waiting list right now
Waiting over a year
3
▼ -628
Been on the list for 12+ months
5 in 10
seen within 18 weeks
The NHS tries to treat everyone this fast
5,974
people waiting right now
Currently on this department's list
41 weeks
long-wait time
About 1 in 12 people wait this long or longer
3 people
have waited over a year
Been on the list for 12+ months
1,015 people
waiting for a surgery date
Already been told they need an operation

Wait time over time

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

▼ -0.3 wks

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 12 weeks. This hospital is slower than the national average.

Hospital ranking

Ranked 230th out of 266 hospitals nationally for this department

Ranked 29th out of 35 in East of England

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.

Colchester Dist General Hospital, Colchester, CO4 5JL
01206 747474
NHS Suffolk And North East Essex Integrated Care Board

Patient experiences

People who used this department at this hospital.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the NHS General Surgery waiting list at East Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust?

East Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust currently has about 5,974 patients on its General Surgery waiting list. The typical wait from GP referral to first appointment is around 17 weeks.

Does East Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust meet the NHS 18-week target for General Surgery?

About 53% of General Surgery patients at East Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation 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.

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