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Cambridge University Hospitals waiting times

59,350 people were waiting for planned treatment at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at the end of September 2026. Half had waited more than 11.6 weeks, 0.6 weeks shorter than England's (12.2).

NHS waiting times · Central East · Cambridge University Hospitals

All specialties, September 2026

59,350

waiting

down 7,019 (10.6%) on a year earlier

11.6 wk

median wait

England 12.2

66.3%

under 18 weeks

England 65.9%

657

over a year

England 113,490

Waits by specialty

Every specialty with people waiting at Cambridge University Hospitals, 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 together59,35011.666.3%657
Trauma and orthopaedicsHip and knee replacements, shoulders, feet, hands and spines4,45714.659.3%8
Eyes (ophthalmology)Cataracts, glaucoma and other eye conditions3,71911.366.1%4
General surgeryHernias, gallbladders and other abdominal operations1,52815.256.4%15
GynaecologyHysterectomies, endometriosis, prolapse and other gynaecology4,65518.050.0%252
Ear, nose and throatTonsils, sinuses, ears and hearing3,56515.455.7%119
UrologyProstate, kidney stones and bladder2,35811.068.0%9
Oral surgeryWisdom teeth and other hospital dental surgery3,65520.146.2%61
Plastic surgeryReconstructive plastic surgery on the NHS, including hands and skin2,16710.866.4%1
NeurosurgeryBrain and spinal surgery2,13113.961.7%23
DermatologySkin conditions4,16211.465.3%7
CardiologyHeart conditions2,47213.263.1%40
GastroenterologyStomach, bowel and liver conditions1,4945.289.3%1

The last 13 months

September 2025 to September 2026.

66,36959,350September 2025September 2026
People waiting at Cambridge University Hospitals, by monthLowest 58,435, highest 66,369. The scale starts near the lowest value.
The figures
MonthValue
September 202566,369
October 202565,444
November 202564,069
December 202564,282
January 202662,482
February 202661,088
March 202658,435
April 202659,754
May 202659,827
June 202659,372
July 202660,206
August 202660,401
September 202659,350
14.0 wk11.6 wkSeptember 2025September 2026
Median wait at Cambridge University Hospitals, weeksLowest 11.5 wk, highest 14.0 wk. The scale starts near the lowest value.
The figures
MonthValue
September 202514.0 wk
October 202513.8 wk
November 202513.5 wk
December 202513.8 wk
January 202614.0 wk
February 202613.6 wk
March 202611.7 wk
April 202611.8 wk
May 202612.3 wk
June 202611.5 wk
July 202611.5 wk
August 202611.7 wk
September 202611.6 wk
16.2 wk14.6 wkSeptember 2025September 2026
Orthopaedics median wait at Cambridge University Hospitals, weeksLowest 14.6 wk, highest 16.5 wk. The scale starts near the lowest value.
The figures
MonthValue
September 202516.2 wk
October 202515.8 wk
November 202515.6 wk
December 202516.0 wk
January 202616.4 wk
February 202616.5 wk
March 202616.3 wk
April 202615.7 wk
May 202616.3 wk
June 202615.9 wk
July 202614.9 wk
August 202615.1 wk
September 202614.6 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 26.2 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 specialties12,59016.03,30510.449.2
Trauma and orthopaedics2,08219.032426.248.9
Eyes (ophthalmology)1,53216.737414.144.2
General surgery40228.313829.053.7
Gynaecology48827.59418.067.7
Ear, nose and throat1,23624.615936.561.4
Urology87413.72339.045.3
Oral surgery34326.15820.058.2
Plastic surgery41513.11857.245.4
Neurosurgery64115.914514.441.7
Dermatology30521.75133.553.7
Cardiology875.1366.423.1
Gastroenterology1754.41715.418.7

Other trusts in Central East

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

TrustWaitingMedian wait, weeksOrthopaedics median, weeks
Bedfordshire Hospitals86,51914.621.2
East and North Hertfordshire Teaching58,76413.019.9
Milton Keynes University Hospital39,67314.517.0
North West Anglia72,56314.016.8
Royal Papworth Hospital5,9219.3
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals44,68711.917.5

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/cambridge-university-hospitals.json. NHS England organisation code RGT.

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 Cambridge University Hospitals?

At the end of September 2026, 59,350 people were waiting for planned treatment at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Half had waited more than 11.6 weeks, against 12.2 weeks across England. 66.3% had waited under 18 weeks and 657 over a year. Source: NHS England.

How long is the orthopaedic wait at Cambridge University Hospitals?

In trauma and orthopaedics, which includes hip and knee replacements, 4,457 people were waiting at the end of September 2026, with a median wait so far of 14.6 weeks (England: 13.9). People admitted for treatment that month had waited a median of 26.2 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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