NHS scoliosis surgery waiting times (2026)
The latest figures and your options
Home › Guides › NHS scoliosis surgery waiting times (2026): the latest figures and your options
Latest published figure (August 2026 data, published 8 Oct 2026): 61.1% of the 843,419 people waiting for trauma and orthopaedic treatment in England had waited under 18 weeks, and 62.0% of the 53,980 waiting for neurosurgery [1]. NHS England does not publish a figure for scoliosis surgery: it is counted under the specialty of the team treating you. The September 2026 figures are due on 12 Nov 2026 [3].
Written by Saher Shodhan. Every waiting time on this page comes from NHS England's August 2026 data, published on 8 Oct 2026, unless the sentence gives another source and date. Sources are numbered at the end.
If you or your child are waiting for scoliosis surgery, this page gives you the latest official figures, shows you how to look up your own hospital's wait, and explains your right to ask for a hospital with a shorter wait. For a guide to scoliosis surgery in one country, see scoliosis surgery in Poland.
Latest NHS waiting figures
NHS England counts the time from referral to the start of treatment, and publishes it each month by specialty. Scoliosis surgery is not listed on its own. Depending on the team treating you, it falls under one of these, at the end of August 2026:
| England, August 2026 | Trauma and Orthopaedics | Neurosurgery | Other: Paediatric Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| People waiting to start treatment | 843,419 | 53,980 | 321,302 |
| Waited under 18 weeks (the NHS standard is 92%) | 61.1% | 62.0% | 66.0% |
| Median wait (half waited less, half waited more) | 13.8 weeks | 13.4 weeks | 12.3 weeks |
| 92 in 100 had waited less than | 41.7 weeks | 39.4 weeks | 36.4 weeks |
NHS England, referral to treatment waiting times, August 2026, published 8 Oct 2026 [1] [2]. Each column covers every patient in that group, not scoliosis surgery alone. A child seen by a children's (paediatric) surgical team may be counted in the paediatric group. The figures leave out 4 trusts that sent no data for August 2026 [1].
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How to check your hospital's wait
My Planned Care, an NHS website, shows average waits by hospital and specialty, and says it "is updated weekly and can be viewed by anyone" [4].
- Go to myplannedcare.nhs.uk and choose your region, or search by postcode.
- Pick the hospital on your referral letter, then the specialty: Spinal Surgery where it is listed, otherwise Orthopaedics, Neurosurgery or Paediatrics.
- Read two numbers: the average wait for a first outpatient appointment, and the average wait for treatment.
As an example, on its page updated 30 Oct 2026, the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore showed an average wait of 21 weeks for treatment in Spinal Surgery, with 8 in 10 patients treated within 34 weeks, and 11 weeks for treatment in Paediatrics [5]. Each figure covers the whole specialty at that hospital, not scoliosis alone.
Your right to choose where you are treated
The NHS says: "The maximum waiting time for non-urgent, consultant-led treatments is 18 weeks" from referral [6]. It also says: "If a GP needs to refer you for a physical or mental health condition, in most cases you have the legal right to choose the hospital or service you'd like to go to" [7].
If you are already waiting: "You have the legal right to ask for your appointment to be moved to a different provider if you're likely to wait longer than the maximum waiting time" [7]. The hospital or integrated care board (ICB) then has to offer you other hospitals that could see you sooner [7]. The 18-week right does not apply if "delaying the start of your treatment is in your best clinical interests" [6].
What the NHS says about scoliosis surgery
For children, the NHS says "careful monitoring by a specialist is important", and that "Surgery may be recommended if your child's scoliosis continues to get worse despite trying other treatments" [8]. For adults, it says "Most adults with scoliosis will not need surgery" [9]. Ask your specialist team what would change the timing of your operation, and how often you will be reviewed while you wait.
Self-pay in the UK and abroad
If you are thinking about paying for scoliosis correction yourself, our scoliosis surgery cost guide sets out what UK and overseas hospitals charge and what each price includes. For the trip abroad, see scoliosis surgery abroad and the countries UK patients choose for spinal surgery.
When this may not be right for you
If your hospital's wait is short, NHS treatment costs nothing and keeps your spinal team and long-term follow-up close to home. If you go abroad, follow-up in the UK needs planning before you go. The NHS says you "should discuss your plans with a GP before making any final decisions about travel or medical arrangements" [10].
How to check a clinic before you book
- Find the clinic on its country's official register of healthcare providers, under the legal name shown on the quote.
- Get the operating surgeon's name in writing, look them up on their professional register, and ask how many scoliosis corrections of your type they do each year.
- Read the Google reviews, including the low-rated ones, and check the listing is the hospital itself, not an agency.
- Get the quote itemised in writing, including intensive care, implants and nights in hospital.
- Ask what happens if something goes wrong once you are home, and who pays.
Our 15 questions to ask a clinic cover the rest, and our guide to travel insurance for surgery abroad covers what standard policies leave out.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the NHS wait for scoliosis surgery?
NHS England does not publish waits for scoliosis surgery alone. In August 2026 the median wait was 13.8 weeks in trauma and orthopaedics and 13.4 weeks in neurosurgery, across all patients in those specialties [2]. Waits at your own hospital can be very different, so check them on My Planned Care [4].
Is there a waiting list for spinal fusion surgery?
Yes. Spinal fusion on the NHS is planned treatment, so you join the waiting list for the specialty treating you. In August 2026, 61.1% of trauma and orthopaedic patients in England had waited under 18 weeks [1].
Can we choose which NHS hospital treats us?
In most cases, yes. The NHS says you have the legal right to choose the hospital when a GP refers you, and to ask to move if you are likely to wait longer than the maximum waiting time [7]. Ask your GP or the hospital you were referred to.
Sources
- NHS England, referral to treatment waiting times, August 2026, statistical press notice: table 1, Trauma and Orthopaedic Service 843,419 waiting, 61.1% within 18 weeks; Neurosurgical Service 53,980, 62.0%; Other - Paediatric Services 321,302, 66.0%; 92% standard; 4 trusts sent no data. Published 8 Oct 2026.
- NHS England, incomplete pathways by commissioner, August 2026, national sheet: medians 13.8 weeks (Trauma and Orthopaedics), 13.4 weeks (Neurosurgery), 12.3 weeks (Other - Paediatric Services); 92nd percentiles 41.7, 39.4 and 36.4 weeks (estimates from grouped data). Published 8 Oct 2026.
- NHS England on GOV.UK, statistics announcement, RTT waiting times for September 2026: release date 12 Nov 2026 (provisional). Checked 31 Oct 2026.
- NHS, My Planned Care. Read 31 Oct 2026.
- My Planned Care, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust: Spinal Surgery, average wait for treatment 21 weeks, 8 in 10 within 34 weeks; Paediatrics, average wait for treatment 11 weeks. Page updated 30 Oct 2026. Read 31 Oct 2026.
- NHS, Guide to NHS waiting times in England. Read 31 Oct 2026.
- NHS, Your choices in the NHS. Read 31 Oct 2026.
- NHS, Scoliosis: treatment in children. Read 31 Oct 2026.
- NHS, Scoliosis: treatment in adults. Read 31 Oct 2026.
- NHS, Going abroad for medical treatment. Read 31 Oct 2026.
Related: NHS spinal surgery waiting times, scoliosis surgery cost, spinal fusion cost in Poland.
This guide is general information, not medical advice.
Clinics UK patients look at
The four with the most Google reviews among the orthopaedic clinics we hold. Each has a free page with its records.
Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, ChennaiChennai, India
KIMS-Sunshine Hospitals, BegumpetHyderabad (Begumpet), India
Yashoda Hospitals, SomajigudaHyderabad (Somajiguda, Raj Bhavan Road), India
Yashoda Hospitals, MalakpetHyderabad (Malakpet, Nalgonda X Roads), India
Written by Saher Shodhan
Saher Shodhan is the founder of Thera Travel, which publishes what the official records show about clinics abroad, each fact with the date it was checked, and answers patients' enquiries, free. More about Thera → How we write and check our guides →
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