Waiting times by specialty
Orthopaedics waiting times in England
At the end of June 2026, 837,484 people were on the England orthopaedics waiting list and about 6 in 10 people (61%) had been waiting less than 18 weeks.
NHS England reports this service as Trauma and Orthopaedic Service. Consultant-led care for bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. It is the largest single elective waiting list in England. It commonly includes hip and knee replacement, shoulder and spine clinics, hand surgery such as carpal tunnel release, fracture follow-up.
- People waiting
- 837,484
- End of June 2026
- Under 18 weeks
- 60.6%
- Share of this published list
- Over 52 weeks
- 21,456
- Share of all NHS waits
- 11.7%
- of 7,178,718 total
21,456 people (2.6%, roughly 1 in 38) had been waiting more than 52 weeks.
How this has changed
Between July 2025 and June 2026 the share of people on the England orthopaedics list waiting under 18 weeks improved by 2 percentage points (59% to 61%).
Share waiting under 18 weeks: broadly unchanged over 3 months (59.1% in March 2026); up 2.4 points over 6 months (58.2% in December 2025).
Share seen within 18 weeks, month by month
Improving · +2 pointsPercentage of people seen within 18 weeks, over the last 12 published months.
View these figures as a table
| Month | Within 18 weeks |
|---|---|
| July 2025 | 58.6% |
| August 2025 | 58.6% |
| September 2025 | 59.5% |
| October 2025 | 59.1% |
| November 2025 | 58.9% |
| December 2025 | 58.2% |
| January 2026 | 57.6% |
| February 2026 | 57.6% |
| March 2026 | 59.1% |
| April 2026 | 58.8% |
| May 2026 | 59.8% |
| June 2026 | 60.6% |
Month-to-month movements of less than two percentage points are treated as normal variation rather than a real change in direction.
Month-by-month figures
| Month | Waiting | Under 18 weeks | Over 52 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2025 | 856,088 | 58.6% | 28,710 |
| August 2025 | 865,083 | 58.6% | 29,176 |
| September 2025 | 869,508 | 59.5% | 29,111 |
| October 2025 | 867,625 | 59.1% | 29,115 |
| November 2025 | 854,156 | 58.9% | 27,719 |
| December 2025 | 853,046 | 58.2% | 25,716 |
| January 2026 | 845,246 | 57.6% | 25,055 |
| February 2026 | 837,743 | 57.6% | 23,056 |
| March 2026 | 826,172 | 59.1% | 18,999 |
| April 2026 | 827,992 | 58.8% | 19,505 |
| May 2026 | 835,954 | 59.8% | 20,912 |
| June 2026 | 837,484 | 60.6% | 21,456 |
How much hospitals differ
Across the 124 NHS trusts with data, the share waiting under 18 weeks ranges from 31% (Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust) to 100% (Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust) — a 69-point gap. These published figures do not predict when an individual patient will receive an appointment or treatment.
- 80% or more under 18 weeks7 trusts
- 65% to 79%25 trusts
- 50% to 64%75 trusts
- Under 50%17 trusts
A further 150 NHS-funded independent-sector and other providers reported 137,863 people waiting for this service. Their case mix can differ from an NHS trust's, so they are counted here but not ranked alongside trusts.
NHS trusts by published position
Trusts with at least 200 people on this list, most recent month, sorted by share waiting under 18 weeks. Small differences are not meaningful.
| Trust | Region | Waiting | Under 18 weeks | Over 52 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust | South East | 3,434 | 100% | 0 |
| Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust | North West | 3,790 | 91% | 0 |
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | South East | 2,072 | 87% | 2 |
| North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust | North East | 6,724 | 86% | 16 |
| Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust | West Midlands | 7,051 | 85% | 1 |
| Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | South East | 3,461 | 85% | 0 |
| South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | West Midlands | 3,521 | 84% | 0 |
| Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | London | 3,896 | 79% | 8 |
| East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust | North West | 6,762 | 79% | 11 |
| East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | South East | 10,165 | 78% | 103 |
| University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | West Midlands | 4,067 | 78% | 0 |
| Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust | South East | 4,237 | 78% | 3 |
| Whittington Health NHS Trust | London | 2,202 | 78% | 0 |
| George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | West Midlands | 2,003 | 77% | 1 |
| University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | London | 3,338 | 76% | 2 |
| Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust | London | 4,528 | 75% | 4 |
| Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust | Yorkshire and The Humber | 2,422 | 75% | 1 |
| County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust | North East | 10,579 | 74% | 108 |
| Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | North East | 10,399 | 71% | 0 |
| James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | East of England | 2,144 | 70% | 14 |
| Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | North West | 7,714 | 69% | 124 |
| South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | North East | 5,559 | 69% | 26 |
| The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust | West Midlands | 6,625 | 68% | 63 |
| Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust | South West | 2,712 | 68% | 3 |
| Bristol NHS Foundation Trust | South West | 1,696 | 68% | 2 |
| Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust | North West | 3,137 | 67% | 0 |
| The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | West Midlands | 11,076 | 66% | 67 |
| St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | London | 3,986 | 66% | 7 |
| Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | South East | 7,884 | 66% | 158 |
| Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | East Midlands | 1,890 | 66% | 1 |
| Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust | South West | 2,183 | 65% | 11 |
| Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | South West | 9,045 | 65% | 333 |
| Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust | London | 6,762 | 64% | 19 |
| Airedale NHS Foundation Trust | Yorkshire and The Humber | 1,421 | 64% | 18 |
| Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust | London | 3,151 | 64% | 0 |
| North Bristol NHS Trust | South West | 6,256 | 63% | 16 |
| The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust | West Midlands | 4,078 | 63% | 1 |
| University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust | North West | 6,107 | 63% | 277 |
| Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust | London | 6,284 | 63% | 227 |
| Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust | West Midlands | 3,800 | 63% | 1 |
| Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust | Yorkshire and The Humber | 3,543 | 63% | 0 |
| Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | North West | 2,417 | 63% | 2 |
| York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Yorkshire and The Humber | 4,745 | 63% | 65 |
| The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | North East | 7,773 | 62% | 264 |
| Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust | London | 5,076 | 62% | 39 |
| Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | North West | 8,977 | 62% | 164 |
| Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust | London | 5,124 | 62% | 21 |
| Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | South East | 5,860 | 61% | 90 |
| Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | East Midlands | 3,005 | 61% | 25 |
| Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust | Yorkshire and The Humber | 2,727 | 61% | 61 |
| Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust | West Midlands | 5,874 | 61% | 16 |
| United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | East Midlands | 6,459 | 61% | 40 |
| Medway NHS Foundation Trust | South East | 2,916 | 61% | 2 |
| Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust | North East | 1,682 | 60% | 0 |
| Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust | East Midlands | 7,253 | 60% | 248 |
| North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust | North West | 2,798 | 60% | 35 |
| University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust | West Midlands | 5,506 | 60% | 184 |
| Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | Yorkshire and The Humber | 4,533 | 60% | 169 |
| The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | London | 5,687 | 60% | 20 |
| London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust | London | 6,582 | 60% | 48 |
| Stockport NHS Foundation Trust | North West | 6,280 | 60% | 41 |
| Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | North West | 3,100 | 60% | 33 |
| Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | London | 2,536 | 59% | 51 |
| Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | North West | 2,986 | 59% | 25 |
| Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust | East Midlands | 2,760 | 58% | 38 |
| King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | London | 3,588 | 58% | 52 |
| Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust | North West | 14,092 | 58% | 535 |
| Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | Yorkshire and The Humber | 2,618 | 58% | 42 |
| South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust | North East | 8,464 | 58% | 0 |
| Barts Health NHS Trust | London | 8,710 | 58% | 83 |
| Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust | South East | 5,797 | 58% | 228 |
| East Cheshire NHS Trust | North West | 1,543 | 58% | 28 |
| Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust | North West | 12,295 | 57% | 330 |
| Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust | South East | 13,214 | 57% | 301 |
| Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | Yorkshire and The Humber | 6,333 | 56% | 349 |
| Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | East of England | 4,470 | 56% | 28 |
| The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust | East of England | 5,374 | 56% | 40 |
| Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | South East | 8,079 | 55% | 204 |
| Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | South East | 3,142 | 55% | 114 |
| West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | East of England | 4,826 | 55% | 57 |
| Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust | South East | 4,977 | 55% | 9 |
| University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust | South West | 3,423 | 55% | 205 |
| Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Yorkshire and The Humber | 1,976 | 55% | 45 |
| University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | South West | 8,048 | 55% | 209 |
| Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | South West | 9,661 | 54% | 12 |
| Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | London | 5,511 | 54% | 151 |
| Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust | Yorkshire and The Humber | 4,848 | 54% | 124 |
| North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust | East of England | 6,875 | 54% | 46 |
| Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Yorkshire and The Humber | 12,752 | 54% | 1,100 |
| Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust | South East | 11,867 | 54% | 252 |
| Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | North West | 2,614 | 53% | 20 |
| Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | North West | 4,561 | 53% | 32 |
| University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust | West Midlands | 5,199 | 53% | 153 |
| Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust | West Midlands | 5,335 | 53% | 164 |
| West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust | East of England | 4,438 | 52% | 85 |
| The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust | Yorkshire and The Humber | 4,438 | 52% | 101 |
| Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust | London | 3,241 | 52% | 10 |
| Bolton NHS Foundation Trust | North West | 2,275 | 52% | 30 |
| University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust | South East | 3,977 | 52% | 121 |
| Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | North West | 4,614 | 52% | 175 |
| Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust | South East | 4,887 | 51% | 280 |
| North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust | North West | 3,453 | 51% | 132 |
| The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust | East of England | 2,195 | 51% | 88 |
| Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | East Midlands | 2,343 | 51% | 63 |
| East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust | East of England | 9,687 | 51% | 7 |
| Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust | London | 10,880 | 51% | 483 |
| Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | South East | 3,002 | 50% | 117 |
| Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | East of England | 9,210 | 49% | 866 |
| Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust | South West | 5,624 | 49% | 330 |
| University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust | East Midlands | 17,401 | 49% | 861 |
| Isle of Wight NHS Trust | South East | 2,214 | 49% | 86 |
| Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | South West | 10,308 | 49% | 551 |
| Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust | South East | 5,210 | 49% | 150 |
| The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust | West Midlands | 2,249 | 48% | 0 |
| East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust | East of England | 4,609 | 48% | 183 |
| Wye Valley NHS Trust | West Midlands | 3,637 | 48% | 319 |
| University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | South East | 7,525 | 48% | 373 |
| Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | South West | 5,682 | 46% | 235 |
| East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust | South East | 8,100 | 45% | 243 |
| The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | West Midlands | 15,021 | 43% | 2,409 |
| Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | South West | 3,483 | 43% | 200 |
| Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | East of England | 6,749 | 42% | 334 |
| University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust | East Midlands | 11,874 | 40% | 832 |
| Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust | East of England | 13,260 | 31% | 2,523 |
What this measure includes
- These figures cover consultant-led referral-to-treatment pathways where the patient was still waiting to start treatment at the end of the reporting month.
- People can be at different stages of an incomplete referral-to-treatment pathway. The figures do not show the stage of an individual patient's pathway.
- These published aggregate figures do not show the clinical priority of an individual referral.
Checking your own position
Published figures describe a whole list for one month. To work out how long you have been waiting, use the wait check. The team named on your appointment letter is the only source for your actual place on a list.
How to read a specialty figure
These are end-of-month counts of people on an incomplete consultant-led referral-to-treatment pathway. One specialty list holds referrals of different clinical priority and people at different stages, and the published figures do not separate them, so this is context rather than a forecast for any individual.
What these figures cannot tell you
- Where you are in a queue, or when you will be seen or treated.
- How urgent your own referral is. These are aggregate waiting-list figures and do not show the clinical priority of an individual patient.
- Anything about a specific consultant, clinic or site within a trust.
- What will happen next month: these are end-of-month snapshots of a past period.
Related guides on this site
- What happens after 52 weeks on a waiting list
Background on how year-plus waits are treated in NHS reporting.
- Work out how long you've waited
Explains how the 18-week measure is counted and what a published percentage represents.
- Your rights while you wait
Reference article on what the 18-week standard is and is not.
- What happens if the NHS misses the 18-week target
Background on what happens when the 18-week standard is not met.
- NHS patient choice explained
Background on the legal basis of NHS patient choice.