NHS General Surgery Referral Waiting Times in London

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Updated June 2026

The typical wait to see a general surgeon is

24 weeks

That's 5½ months

The NHS General Surgery waiting list at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust currently has 4,685 patients waiting, with a typical wait of around 24 weeks from GP referral. About 4 in 10 General Surgery patients here are seen within 18 weeks (the NHS constitutional target is 9 in 10). 282 have been waiting over a year. King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is an NHS Foundation Trust in the London region. Waits at this hospital are about 4.2 weeks longer than in June 2025. It's slipped down 20 places in the national league for this department's; now 262 out of 266 hospitals.

12-month change

Then vs now for this department at this hospital

Jun 25→Jun 26
Typical wait
23.9weeks
▲ +4.2 wks
How long most people wait
Seen in 18 weeks
4in 10
▼ -7.1 pts
NHS aims to see everyone this fast
People waiting
4.7k
▲ +878
On the waiting list right now
Waiting over a year
282
▲ +13
Been on the list for 12+ months
4 in 10
seen within 18 weeks
The NHS tries to treat everyone this fast
4,685
people waiting right now
Currently on this department's list
50 weeks
long-wait time
About 1 in 12 people wait this long or longer
282 people
have waited over a year
Been on the list for 12+ months
3,100 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:

232waiting 1 to 1.25 years (52 to 65 weeks)
49waiting 1.25 to 1.5 years (65 to 78 weeks)
1waiting over 1.5 years (78+ weeks)

Wait time over time

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

▲ +4.2 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 262nd out of 266 hospitals nationally for this department

Ranked 34th 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.

Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS
020 3299 9000
Visit website
NHS South East London Integrated Care Board

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the NHS General Surgery waiting list at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust?

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust currently has about 4,685 patients on its General Surgery waiting list. The typical wait from GP referral to first appointment is around 24 weeks.

Does King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust meet the NHS 18-week target for General Surgery?

About 40% of General Surgery patients at King's College Hospital 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.

Source: NHS England RTT statistics. about our methodology

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