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Bolton waiting times

37,744 people were waiting for planned treatment at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust at the end of September 2026. Half had waited more than 13.5 weeks, 1.3 weeks longer than England's (12.2).

NHS waiting times · Greater Manchester · Bolton

All specialties, September 2026

37,744

waiting

up 189 (0.5%) on a year earlier

13.5 wk

median wait

England 12.2

61.5%

under 18 weeks

England 65.9%

451

over a year

England 113,490

Waits by specialty

Every specialty with people waiting at Bolton, beside England's median. Select a column heading to sort.

median wait, in weeks (scale 0 to 40)England's median for the same specialty

SpecialtyWaitingMedian wait, weeksAgainst England's medianUnder 18 weeksOver a year
All specialtiesEvery consultant-led specialty together37,74413.561.5%451
Trauma and orthopaedicsHip and knee replacements, shoulders, feet, hands and spines2,34516.155.9%20
Eyes (ophthalmology)Cataracts, glaucoma and other eye conditions5,07712.266.5%42
General surgeryHernias, gallbladders and other abdominal operations4,32110.768.4%7
GynaecologyHysterectomies, endometriosis, prolapse and other gynaecology3,51817.451.3%105
Ear, nose and throatTonsils, sinuses, ears and hearing4,18916.653.1%53
UrologyProstate, kidney stones and bladder2,51113.062.8%14
Oral surgeryWisdom teeth and other hospital dental surgery2,25715.854.1%6
Plastic surgeryReconstructive plastic surgery on the NHS, including hands and skin80721.443.5%107
DermatologySkin conditions3,48214.758.8%34
CardiologyHeart conditions2,83617.152.4%55
GastroenterologyStomach, bowel and liver conditions1,4577.190.3%0

The last 13 months

September 2025 to September 2026.

37,55537,744September 2025September 2026
People waiting at Bolton, by monthLowest 36,779, highest 38,836. The scale starts near the lowest value.
The figures
MonthValue
September 202537,555
October 202537,366
November 202537,478
December 202537,532
January 202638,836
February 202637,369
March 202637,849
April 202636,779
May 202637,294
June 202637,808
July 202637,306
August 202636,998
September 202637,744
14.1 wk13.5 wkSeptember 2025September 2026
Median wait at Bolton, weeksLowest 12.3 wk, highest 14.9 wk. The scale starts near the lowest value.
The figures
MonthValue
September 202514.1 wk
October 202514.2 wk
November 202514.4 wk
December 202514.9 wk
January 202614.9 wk
February 202613.8 wk
March 202612.3 wk
April 202613.2 wk
May 202614.0 wk
June 202613.8 wk
July 202613.5 wk
August 202613.3 wk
September 202613.5 wk
15.7 wk16.1 wkSeptember 2025September 2026
Orthopaedics median wait at Bolton, weeksLowest 12.6 wk, highest 17.4 wk. The scale starts near the lowest value.
The figures
MonthValue
September 202515.7 wk
October 202514.5 wk
November 202514.5 wk
December 202514.5 wk
January 202614.2 wk
February 202613.6 wk
March 202612.6 wk
April 202616.9 wk
May 202617.4 wk
June 202617.4 wk
July 202616.0 wk
August 202615.7 wk
September 202616.1 wk
14.3 wk13.9 wkSeptember 2025September 2026
Orthopaedics median wait in England, weeksLowest 13.6 wk, highest 15.2 wk. The scale starts near the lowest value.
The figures
MonthValue
September 202514.3 wk
October 202514.4 wk
November 202514.3 wk
December 202514.7 wk
January 202615.2 wk
February 202615.0 wk
March 202614.5 wk
April 202613.9 wk
May 202614.2 wk
June 202613.8 wk
July 202613.6 wk
August 202613.9 wk
September 202613.9 wk

Waiting for an operation

A woman at her kitchen table reading a hospital appointment letter
Illustration

People admitted for orthopaedic treatment here in September 2026, which includes hip and knee replacements, had waited a median of 26.5 weeks from referral (England: 24.2).

People whose consultant has decided to admit them for treatment, usually an operation, and people admitted in September 2026 with how long they had waited.

SpecialtyWaiting to be admittedTheir median wait, weeksAdmitted for treatment this monthHalf had waited over, weeks92% within, weeks
All specialties5,69125.41,18410.651.7
Trauma and orthopaedics1,07722.514426.552.2
Eyes (ophthalmology)94219.818013.244.5
General surgery1,10026.42548.749.5
Gynaecology32835.0445.064.5
Ear, nose and throat81831.11594.862.5
Urology60123.314126.849.2
Oral surgery27434.02851.859.9
Plastic surgery21619.87711.245.8
Cardiology2212.511.51.9
Gastroenterology2112.51064.812.8

Other trusts in Greater Manchester

You can often choose where you're referred. These are the other NHS trusts in the same area.

TrustWaitingMedian wait, weeksOrthopaedics median, weeks
Christie3,2144.3
Manchester University166,48612.714.5
Northern Care Alliance138,01315.916.3
Stockport34,14312.914.8
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care15,9149.112.1
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals46,33713.613.9

Use these figures

Free to quote and reuse, for journalists, researchers and AI agents. Please credit "Thera Travel, from NHS England data" and link to theratravel.co.uk/nhs-waiting-times. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS England, Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times. Open Government Licence v3.0.

This trust as JSON: /nhs-waiting-times/bolton.json. NHS England organisation code RMC.

Source: NHS England, Referral to Treatment waiting times, September 2026 (published November 2026). Next figures expected 10 December 2026. Journalists: press page.

Questions

How long is the wait at Bolton?

At the end of September 2026, 37,744 people were waiting for planned treatment at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust. Half had waited more than 13.5 weeks, against 12.2 weeks across England. 61.5% had waited under 18 weeks and 451 over a year. Source: NHS England.

How long is the orthopaedic wait at Bolton?

In trauma and orthopaedics, which includes hip and knee replacements, 2,345 people were waiting at the end of September 2026, with a median wait so far of 16.1 weeks (England: 13.9). People admitted for treatment that month had waited a median of 26.5 weeks.

Where do these figures come from?

NHS England's referral-to-treatment statistics for September 2026, published November 2026. We update this page every month.

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