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East Lancashire Hospitals waiting times

47,124 people were waiting for planned treatment at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust at the end of September 2026. Half had waited more than 9.3 weeks, 2.9 weeks shorter than England's (12.2).

NHS waiting times · Lancashire and South Cumbria · East Lancashire Hospitals

All specialties, September 2026

47,124

waiting

down 8,505 (15.3%) on a year earlier

9.3 wk

median wait

England 12.2

72.6%

under 18 weeks

England 65.9%

188

over a year

England 113,490

Waits by specialty

Every specialty with people waiting at East Lancashire 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 together47,1249.372.6%188
Trauma and orthopaedicsHip and knee replacements, shoulders, feet, hands and spines7,0986.979.1%7
Eyes (ophthalmology)Cataracts, glaucoma and other eye conditions4,43411.167.9%2
General surgeryHernias, gallbladders and other abdominal operations3,02511.766.0%0
GynaecologyHysterectomies, endometriosis, prolapse and other gynaecology7,55713.860.8%163
Ear, nose and throatTonsils, sinuses, ears and hearing3,3307.480.3%0
UrologyProstate, kidney stones and bladder1,9936.085.5%0
Oral surgeryWisdom teeth and other hospital dental surgery3,51710.763.3%6
DermatologySkin conditions2,34014.856.1%0
CardiologyHeart conditions1,8637.391.2%0
GastroenterologyStomach, bowel and liver conditions2,0915.391.8%0

The last 13 months

September 2025 to September 2026.

55,62947,124September 2025September 2026
People waiting at East Lancashire Hospitals, by monthLowest 46,343, highest 55,629. The scale starts near the lowest value.
The figures
MonthValue
September 202555,629
October 202554,301
November 202552,322
December 202552,680
January 202651,484
February 202650,339
March 202647,723
April 202647,354
May 202646,714
June 202647,178
July 202647,031
August 202646,343
September 202647,124
13.3 wk9.3 wkSeptember 2025September 2026
Median wait at East Lancashire Hospitals, weeksLowest 9.0 wk, highest 13.6 wk. The scale starts near the lowest value.
The figures
MonthValue
September 202513.3 wk
October 202513.6 wk
November 202512.6 wk
December 202512.3 wk
January 202611.9 wk
February 202611.4 wk
March 20269.3 wk
April 20269.6 wk
May 202610.0 wk
June 20269.5 wk
July 20269.0 wk
August 20269.4 wk
September 20269.3 wk
7.6 wk6.9 wkSeptember 2025September 2026
Orthopaedics median wait at East Lancashire Hospitals, weeksLowest 6.4 wk, highest 8.0 wk. The scale starts near the lowest value.
The figures
MonthValue
September 20257.6 wk
October 20258.0 wk
November 20256.9 wk
December 20256.4 wk
January 20267.3 wk
February 20266.5 wk
March 20266.7 wk
April 20267.2 wk
May 20267.3 wk
June 20267.2 wk
July 20267.1 wk
August 20267.4 wk
September 20266.9 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 30.3 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 specialties8,03320.62,34423.554.0
Trauma and orthopaedics1,26120.627530.352.2
Eyes (ophthalmology)93022.116736.254.2
General surgery83922.630632.954.2
Gynaecology1,08531.324827.266.2
Ear, nose and throat66416.723829.748.5
Urology2328.820214.239.8
Oral surgery1,87919.541020.054.2
Dermatology131.5
Cardiology9010.24413.027.5
Gastroenterology1719.57710.524.8

Other trusts in Lancashire and South Cumbria

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

TrustWaitingMedian wait, weeksOrthopaedics median, weeks
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals41,77214.115.1
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals62,86013.916.2
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay35,85911.013.3

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/east-lancashire-hospitals.json. NHS England organisation code RXR.

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 East Lancashire Hospitals?

At the end of September 2026, 47,124 people were waiting for planned treatment at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust. Half had waited more than 9.3 weeks, against 12.2 weeks across England. 72.6% had waited under 18 weeks and 188 over a year. Source: NHS England.

How long is the orthopaedic wait at East Lancashire Hospitals?

In trauma and orthopaedics, which includes hip and knee replacements, 7,098 people were waiting at the end of September 2026, with a median wait so far of 6.9 weeks (England: 13.9). People admitted for treatment that month had waited a median of 30.3 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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