NHS waiting times by town and area across the UK

NHS waiting times can vary significantly depending on where patients live. Differences in local demand, service capacity, staffing levels and commissioning arrangements all contribute to variation in waiting times between towns, cities and regions.

This page provides an overview of NHS waiting times by town and area across the UK. Locations are grouped by county or council area to help users understand regional variation and navigate waiting time information more easily.

Users can explore NHS waiting times by region now, with detailed town-level pages and service-specific waiting time guides added over time.

How NHS waiting times vary by location

Healthcare services across the UK are planned and delivered locally. While national standards exist, hospitals and specialist services operate within defined local catchment areas.

As a result, waiting times for the same type of care can differ between neighbouring towns or regions. Factors influencing local waiting times include:

• Population size and demand
• Availability of hospital and specialist services
• Workforce capacity
• Historical service pressures and backlogs

Understanding these differences helps explain why NHS waiting times are not uniform across the UK.

Browse NHS waiting times by area

Waiting times may differ by service, including mental health care, diagnostic scans, emergency care and specialist assessments.

Below is a list of counties or council areas across the UK with selected major towns and cities. Click on any town to view local waiting time information.

How to use town-level waiting time pages

Each town page provides:

• Diagnostic waiting times for the local NHS trust (where available)
• National context for services where local data is not published
• Links to service-specific guides for ADHD, autism, mental health and A&E

Town pages will be updated as new data becomes available.