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Bristol waiting times

98,038 people were waiting for planned treatment at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust at the end of September 2026. Half had waited more than 11.0 weeks, 1.2 weeks shorter than England's (12.2).

NHS waiting times · Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire · Bristol

All specialties, September 2026

98,038

waiting

up 43,964 (81.3%) on a year earlier

11.0 wk

median wait

England 12.2

68.8%

under 18 weeks

England 65.9%

479

over a year

England 113,490

Waits by specialty

Every specialty with people waiting at Bristol, 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 together98,03811.068.8%479
Trauma and orthopaedicsHip and knee replacements, shoulders, feet, hands and spines8,86014.460.5%96
Eyes (ophthalmology)Cataracts, glaucoma and other eye conditions7,4118.275.8%1
General surgeryHernias, gallbladders and other abdominal operations68111.275.5%1
GynaecologyHysterectomies, endometriosis, prolapse and other gynaecology10,31213.660.9%41
Ear, nose and throatTonsils, sinuses, ears and hearing5,68012.764.2%0
UrologyProstate, kidney stones and bladder5,5089.875.9%0
Oral surgeryWisdom teeth and other hospital dental surgery2,28712.864.6%6
Plastic surgeryReconstructive plastic surgery on the NHS, including hands and skin3,01210.069.0%35
NeurosurgeryBrain and spinal surgery1,2869.674.3%1
DermatologySkin conditions5,6108.080.1%1
CardiologyHeart conditions6,69913.559.9%0
GastroenterologyStomach, bowel and liver conditions1,6407.681.7%3

The last 13 months

September 2025 to September 2026.

54,07498,038September 2025September 2026
People waiting at Bristol, by monthLowest 49,924, highest 98,038. The scale starts near the lowest value.
The figures
MonthValue
September 202554,074
October 202552,866
November 202552,434
December 202550,729
January 202650,520
February 202650,142
March 202649,924
April 202650,484
May 202650,245
June 202650,868
July 202695,525
August 202696,608
September 202698,038
12.0 wk11.0 wkSeptember 2025September 2026
Median wait at Bristol, weeksLowest 10.5 wk, highest 12.0 wk. The scale starts near the lowest value.
The figures
MonthValue
September 202512.0 wk
October 202511.6 wk
November 202510.8 wk
December 202511.6 wk
January 202611.9 wk
February 202611.8 wk
March 202610.5 wk
April 202610.8 wk
May 202611.4 wk
June 202610.7 wk
July 202610.5 wk
August 202611.1 wk
September 202611.0 wk
10.5 wk14.4 wkSeptember 2025September 2026
Orthopaedics median wait at Bristol, weeksLowest 9.6 wk, highest 14.4 wk. The scale starts near the lowest value.
The figures
MonthValue
September 202510.5 wk
October 202510.6 wk
November 20259.6 wk
December 202510.6 wk
January 202610.3 wk
February 202610.9 wk
March 202611.1 wk
April 202612.4 wk
May 202613.2 wk
June 202612.6 wk
July 202613.0 wk
August 202613.8 wk
September 202614.4 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 24.3 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 specialties22,48215.56,11410.647.8
Trauma and orthopaedics4,16720.858824.352.3
Eyes (ophthalmology)2,14911.065910.842.8
General surgery35915.58023.340.8
Gynaecology1,64819.137016.052.2
Ear, nose and throat1,27923.020114.853.0
Urology2,36410.96626.737.0
Oral surgery64823.811632.747.3
Plastic surgery1,58715.24998.245.1
Neurosurgery42913.115010.636.5
Dermatology8169.25397.532.6
Cardiology1,80215.235714.451.4
Gastroenterology1974.31445.121.5

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/bristol.json. NHS England organisation code RA7.

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 Bristol?

At the end of September 2026, 98,038 people were waiting for planned treatment at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. Half had waited more than 11.0 weeks, against 12.2 weeks across England. 68.8% had waited under 18 weeks and 479 over a year. Source: NHS England.

How long is the orthopaedic wait at Bristol?

In trauma and orthopaedics, which includes hip and knee replacements, 8,860 people were waiting at the end of September 2026, with a median wait so far of 14.4 weeks (England: 13.9). People admitted for treatment that month had waited a median of 24.3 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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