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Northern Care Alliance waiting times

138,013 people were waiting for planned treatment at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust at the end of September 2026. Half had waited more than 15.9 weeks, 3.7 weeks longer than England's (12.2).

NHS waiting times · Greater Manchester · Northern Care Alliance

All specialties, September 2026

138,013

waiting

down 2,590 (1.8%) on a year earlier

15.9 wk

median wait

England 12.2

55.1%

under 18 weeks

England 65.9%

4,739

over a year

England 113,490

Waits by specialty

Every specialty with people waiting at Northern Care Alliance, 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 together138,01315.955.1%4,739
Trauma and orthopaedicsHip and knee replacements, shoulders, feet, hands and spines15,37516.353.1%783
Eyes (ophthalmology)Cataracts, glaucoma and other eye conditions6,36216.553.5%243
General surgeryHernias, gallbladders and other abdominal operations5,74519.148.3%512
GynaecologyHysterectomies, endometriosis, prolapse and other gynaecology10,29720.044.6%924
Ear, nose and throatTonsils, sinuses, ears and hearing9,76316.553.3%340
UrologyProstate, kidney stones and bladder7,47416.353.9%217
Oral surgeryWisdom teeth and other hospital dental surgery1,84219.148.2%111
Plastic surgeryReconstructive plastic surgery on the NHS, including hands and skin1,45414.457.2%64
NeurosurgeryBrain and spinal surgery4,45117.252.0%166
DermatologySkin conditions15,94020.544.8%411
CardiologyHeart conditions5,56912.666.8%0
GastroenterologyStomach, bowel and liver conditions13,95316.854.1%390

The last 13 months

September 2025 to September 2026.

140,603138,013September 2025September 2026
People waiting at Northern Care Alliance, by monthLowest 129,221, highest 141,151. The scale starts near the lowest value.
The figures
MonthValue
September 2025140,603
October 2025141,151
November 2025138,004
December 2025135,559
January 2026134,276
February 2026130,781
March 2026129,221
April 2026132,998
May 2026134,640
June 2026133,909
July 2026134,561
August 2026136,973
September 2026138,013
16.3 wk15.9 wkSeptember 2025September 2026
Median wait at Northern Care Alliance, weeksLowest 14.0 wk, highest 17.0 wk. The scale starts near the lowest value.
The figures
MonthValue
September 202516.3 wk
October 202516.3 wk
November 202516.2 wk
December 202516.7 wk
January 202617.0 wk
February 202615.8 wk
March 202614.1 wk
April 202614.0 wk
May 202614.9 wk
June 202615.2 wk
July 202615.0 wk
August 202615.5 wk
September 202615.9 wk
14.8 wk16.3 wkSeptember 2025September 2026
Orthopaedics median wait at Northern Care Alliance, weeksLowest 13.7 wk, highest 16.3 wk. The scale starts near the lowest value.
The figures
MonthValue
September 202514.8 wk
October 202515.2 wk
November 202515.3 wk
December 202515.4 wk
January 202616.0 wk
February 202615.2 wk
March 202613.9 wk
April 202613.7 wk
May 202614.2 wk
June 202614.2 wk
July 202615.0 wk
August 202615.7 wk
September 202616.3 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 34.8 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 specialties25,26524.03,03616.763.2
Trauma and orthopaedics4,45328.638634.864.4
Eyes (ophthalmology)1,37127.520117.564.0
General surgery3,26627.627422.066.6
Gynaecology2,83735.516021.070.1
Ear, nose and throat1,62829.119322.568.6
Urology1,69625.527412.063.3
Oral surgery12238.0862.066.4
Plastic surgery73621.19518.859.5
Neurosurgery1,48023.216530.163.0
Dermatology10243.03553.564.7
Cardiology41913.63422.042.3
Gastroenterology3,35012.555011.650.7

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
Bolton37,74413.516.1
Christie3,2144.3
Manchester University166,48612.714.5
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/northern-care-alliance.json. NHS England organisation code RM3.

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 Northern Care Alliance?

At the end of September 2026, 138,013 people were waiting for planned treatment at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust. Half had waited more than 15.9 weeks, against 12.2 weeks across England. 55.1% had waited under 18 weeks and 4,739 over a year. Source: NHS England.

How long is the orthopaedic wait at Northern Care Alliance?

In trauma and orthopaedics, which includes hip and knee replacements, 15,375 people were waiting at the end of September 2026, with a median wait so far of 16.3 weeks (England: 13.9). People admitted for treatment that month had waited a median of 34.8 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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