How long is the NHS waiting list?
7.1 million hospital treatments are waiting to start in England (July 2026). 65% have waited under 18 weeks (the NHS standard is 92%), and 108,263 have waited more than a year.
Treatments in England, July 2026. One person can be waiting for more than one.
The NHS standard is 92%.
Half of those waiting have waited less than this so far.
1.5% of the list have waited more than 52 weeks.
The waiting list over time
What’s this?
Treatments waiting to start after a referral, such as an operation or hospital appointment. One person can be waiting for more than one treatment.
What it cannot tell you: It counts treatments, not people, and does not show how urgent each case is.
What’s this?
The share of people waiting whose wait so far is under 18 weeks. The NHS constitution sets a standard of 92%.
What it cannot tell you: It does not show why someone has waited, or whether waiting changed their condition.
Waiting lists by hospital specialty
The twelve longest lists in England, July 2026. These are the specialties the NHS publishes for each area.
| Specialty | Treatments waiting | Under 18 weeks | Over a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trauma and Orthopaedic | 836,188 | 61% | 19,877 |
| Ophthalmology | 618,130 | 73% | 4,803 |
| Ear Nose and Throat | 590,391 | 58% | 12,746 |
| Gynaecology | 584,203 | 60% | 12,038 |
| Dermatology | 412,951 | 69% | 4,815 |
| General Surgery | 379,873 | 63% | 8,005 |
| Urology | 366,314 | 65% | 5,024 |
| Gastroenterology | 360,236 | 69% | 3,197 |
| Cardiology | 357,557 | 68% | 2,899 |
| Oral Surgery | 317,913 | 54% | 7,702 |
| Neurology | 185,158 | 62% | 1,792 |
| Respiratory Medicine | 183,335 | 75% | 486 |
Which areas have the shortest and longest waits?
The five NHS areas (integrated care boards) with the highest and lowest share seen within 18 weeks. Pick your own area →
| NHS area | Treatments waiting | Under 18 weeks | Middle wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly | 53,097 | 74% | 9 weeks |
| North East and North Cumbria | 373,390 | 73% | 10 weeks |
| Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire | 94,419 | 72% | 10 weeks |
| Gloucestershire | 76,514 | 72% | 11 weeks |
| West Yorkshire | 238,444 | 70% | 10 weeks |
| Greater Manchester | 405,139 | 63% | 13 weeks |
| Lincolnshire | 109,453 | 62% | 13 weeks |
| Humber and North Yorkshire | 223,892 | 61% | 13 weeks |
| Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland | 132,973 | 61% | 14 weeks |
| Essex | 280,891 | 55% | 15 weeks |
Questions people ask
How long is the NHS waiting list?
7.1 million treatments in England were waiting to start in July 2026. This counts treatments, not people, so the number of people is lower.
What is the NHS 18-week target?
The NHS standard is that 92% of people should start treatment within 18 weeks of referral. In July 2026 the figure was 65%.
How long is the average wait for NHS treatment?
The middle (median) wait so far among people still waiting is 12 weeks. It is not how long a new patient will wait.
How many people have waited over a year?
108,263 treatments, 1.5% of the list, in July 2026.
Does this include Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
No. Health is run separately in each UK nation. These figures are for England, from NHS England.
Source: NHS England, Referral to Treatment waiting times, July 2026. Updated every night. England only.
See also: NHS waiting times in more detail · How long are NHS waits near me? · How many people are waiting?