NHS waiting lists by service in England
NHS waiting times can vary significantly depending on the type of care needed, the hospital or service providing care, and the area where patients live. This page brings together the main NHS waiting lists covered by this website, with dedicated guides explaining how each pathway works and why waiting times vary.
All information on this website is independent and based on publicly available NHS England data and official NHS publications.
Most searched NHS waiting lists
Below are guides to some of the most commonly searched NHS waiting lists in England. Each guide explains the referral pathway, typical waiting time ranges, and how waiting times vary by area.
Services and waiting times covered on this website
This website focuses on waiting time information across key NHS service categories, including planned care, diagnostic scans, mental health services and emergency care. Waiting times are published in different ways depending on the service type, and the figures presented are typically averages or ranges rather than individual patient waiting times.
Waiting times vary by area
NHS services are commissioned and delivered locally, which means waiting times can differ between towns, regions and NHS trusts. Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) plan services across larger areas, but local capacity and demand can still result in significant variation.
Town and area pages will be added to this website over time to show how waiting times differ across England.
Where the data comes from
All waiting time information on this website is sourced from published NHS England datasets and official NHS publications made publicly available as part of transparency and open data.
Key sources include:
- Referral-to-Treatment (RTT) statistics – monthly data showing how long patients wait from referral to treatment for planned care
- Diagnostics waiting time reports – figures on how long patients wait for diagnostic tests and scans
- Emergency care performance data – published statistics on A&E performance against national standards
All data is published under the Open Government Licence v3.0, which permits public use and republication of official statistics.
Important information for users
This website is an independent information resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the National Health Service (NHS) or NHS England.
The site does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendations. Information is provided for general reference purposes only.
If you have concerns about your health or your position on an NHS waiting list, please contact your GP or healthcare provider directly.
Last updated: January 2026