NHS General Surgery Referral Waiting Times in Prescot

Mersey And West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Updated February 2026

The typical wait to see a general surgeon is

12 weeks

That's nearly 3 months

The NHS General Surgery waiting list at Mersey And West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust currently has 6,240 patients waiting, with a typical wait of around 12 weeks from GP referral. About 7 in 10 General Surgery patients here are seen within 18 weeks (the NHS constitutional target is 9 in 10). 161 have been waiting over a year. Mersey And West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is an NHS Trust in the North West region. Waits at this hospital haven't really changed since February 2025. It's moved up 15 places in the national league for this department's; now 124 out of 269 hospitals.

12-month change

Then vs now for this department at this hospital

Feb 25Feb 26
Typical wait
12.1weeks
▼ -0.3 wks
How long most people wait
Seen in 18 weeks
7in 10
▲ +0.8 pts
NHS aims to see everyone this fast
People waiting
6.2k
▼ -147
On the waiting list right now
Waiting over a year
161
▼ -15
Been on the list for 12+ months
7 in 10
seen within 18 weeks
The NHS tries to treat everyone this fast
6,240
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
161 people
have waited over a year
Been on the list for 12+ months
2,610 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 13 weeks. This hospital is about the same as the national average.

Hospital ranking

Ranked 124th out of 269 hospitals nationally for this department

Ranked 15th out of 36 in North West

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.

Whiston Hospital, Prescot, L35 5DR
0151 426 1600
NHS Cheshire And Merseyside 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 Mersey And West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust?

Mersey And West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust currently has about 6,240 patients on its General Surgery waiting list. The typical wait from GP referral to first appointment is around 12 weeks.

Does Mersey And West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust meet the NHS 18-week target for General Surgery?

About 65% of General Surgery patients at Mersey And West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals 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.

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