Orthopaedic waiting times by trust

Hip and knee replacements, shoulders, feet, hands and spines. 837,685 people were waiting in England at the end of September 2026, with a median wait so far of 13.9 weeks. Every NHS trust, shortest median wait first.

NHS waiting times · Trauma and orthopaedics

England, September 2026

837,685

waiting in England

down 31,823 (3.7%) on a year earlier

13.9 wk

median wait so far

down 0.4 weeks on a year earlier

61.2%

under 18 weeks

24.2 wk

median wait of people admitted

in September 2026

Every NHS trust

121 trusts with at least 50 people waiting, shortest median wait first. Select a column heading to sort.

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

Trust	Waiting	Median wait, weeks	Under 18 weeks	Over a year
Birmingham Community HealthcareBirmingham and Solihull	67	2.4	98.5%	0
Cornwall PartnershipCornwall and the Isles of Scilly	91	4.0	98.9%	0
East Lancashire HospitalsLancashire and South Cumbria	7,098	6.9	79.1%	7
County Durham and DarlingtonNorth East and North Cumbria	10,382	7.2	77.0%	168
Whittington HealthWest and North London	2,096	7.7	81.1%	0
South Warwickshire UniversityCoventry and Warwickshire	3,547	7.9	86.0%	0
Kent Community HealthKent and Medway	3,533	8.1	98.4%	0
North Tees and HartlepoolNorth East and North Cumbria	6,936	8.4	84.0%	19
Croydon Health ServicesSouth West London	3,647	8.6	79.0%	10
George Eliot HospitalCoventry and Warwickshire	1,991	8.6	80.4%	0
University Hospitals BirminghamBirmingham and Solihull	4,990	8.8	77.1%	1
University College London HospitalsWest and North London	3,438	9.1	76.8%	3
East Sussex HealthcareSurrey and Sussex	10,113	9.3	78.3%	79
Royal National Orthopaedic HospitalWest and North London	4,980	9.4	77.5%	3
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching HospitalsCheshire and Merseyside	8,157	9.7	68.1%	146
Hampshire and Isle of Wight HealthcareHampshire and Isle of Wight	3,604	9.8	82.5%	0
James Paget University HospitalsNorfolk and Suffolk	2,088	10.5	74.2%	6
Shropshire Community HealthShropshire, Telford and Wrekin	7,569	10.5	82.2%	0
Royal WolverhamptonBlack Country	6,958	10.6	73.1%	44
Calderdale and HuddersfieldWest Yorkshire	2,537	10.7	71.0%	1
Maidstone and Tunbridge WellsKent and Medway	4,367	10.7	75.0%	0
Royal BerkshireThames Valley	2,092	10.9	81.5%	0
St George's University HospitalsSouth West London	4,045	10.9	71.6%	5
AiredaleWest Yorkshire	1,470	11.1	71.0%	25
Walsall HealthcareBlack Country	4,163	11.3	66.9%	1
United Lincolnshire Teaching HospitalsLincolnshire	5,822	11.6	70.9%	35
Countess of Chester HospitalCheshire and Merseyside	2,463	11.7	71.2%	0
SalisburyBath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire	3,242	11.9	68.5%	18
Tameside and Glossop Integrated CareGreater Manchester	3,349	12.1	66.5%	0
South Tees HospitalsNorth East and North Cumbria	5,717	12.2	67.5%	47
Kettering General HospitalNorthamptonshire	1,841	12.3	69.3%	2
Northumbria HealthcareNorth East and North Cumbria	11,076	12.5	69.6%	0
Harrogate and DistrictHumber and North Yorkshire	3,603	12.7	64.4%	14
Newcastle upon Tyne HospitalsNorth East and North Cumbria	7,619	12.7	63.6%	266
Royal SurreySurrey and Sussex	5,841	12.8	65.3%	125
Royal Orthopaedic HospitalBirmingham and Solihull	11,139	12.9	65.0%	54
Ashford and St Peter's HospitalsSurrey and Sussex	7,576	13.0	66.8%	119
University Hospitals Coventry and WarwickshireCoventry and Warwickshire	5,090	13.1	62.8%	156
York and Scarborough Teaching HospitalsHumber and North Yorkshire	5,085	13.1	63.0%	76
SomersetSomerset	9,217	13.2	61.5%	372
University Hospitals of Morecambe BayLancashire and South Cumbria	6,328	13.3	62.4%	183
Lewisham and GreenwichSouth East London	6,208	13.4	62.1%	241
Guy's and St Thomas'South East London	5,075	13.5	61.9%	43
King's College HospitalSouth East London	3,746	13.5	62.7%	65
Royal United Hospitals BathBath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire	2,629	13.5	68.7%	16
Bradford Teaching HospitalsWest Yorkshire	1,868	13.6	60.7%	20
Dudley GroupBlack Country	4,316	13.6	62.6%	0
Imperial College HealthcareWest and North London	3,256	13.6	63.1%	1
Northern Lincolnshire and GooleHumber and North Yorkshire	2,913	13.6	59.9%	58
Epsom and St Helier University HospitalsSouth West London	7,212	13.8	61.9%	31
Homerton HealthcareNorth East London	2,635	13.9	59.6%	45
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching HospitalsGreater Manchester	9,605	13.9	61.7%	245
Barking, Havering and Redbridge University HospitalsNorth East London	4,498	14.0	62.4%	33
East CheshireCheshire and Merseyside	1,630	14.0	61.3%	40
Hampshire HospitalsHampshire and Isle of Wight	5,971	14.1	60.6%	43
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's LynnNorfolk and Suffolk	1,975	14.1	59.0%	45
Sherwood Forest HospitalsNottingham and Nottinghamshire	3,354	14.1	60.2%	43
Sussex CommunitySurrey and Sussex	14,636	14.1	60.5%	411
Wirral University Teaching HospitalCheshire and Merseyside	2,566	14.1	60.4%	22
BristolBristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire	8,860	14.4	60.5%	96
North Cumbria Integrated CareNorth East and North Cumbria	2,956	14.4	60.6%	16
Hillingdon HospitalsWest and North London	5,990	14.5	59.5%	37
Hull University Teaching HospitalsHumber and North Yorkshire	4,944	14.5	59.4%	161
Manchester UniversityGreater Manchester	11,862	14.5	60.2%	182
Barnsley HospitalSouth Yorkshire	2,423	14.6	58.3%	43
Cambridge University HospitalsCentral East	4,457	14.6	59.3%	8
Sandwell and West Birmingham HospitalsBlack Country	5,873	14.7	59.4%	17
Kingston and RichmondSouth West London	2,888	14.8	58.7%	5
StockportGreater Manchester	6,377	14.8	58.2%	37
Barts HealthNorth East London	9,323	14.9	58.6%	60
Mid Cheshire HospitalsCheshire and Merseyside	3,245	14.9	59.4%	7
Blackpool Teaching HospitalsLancashire and South Cumbria	3,229	15.1	57.5%	47
University Hospitals of North MidlandsStaffordshire and Stoke-On-Trent	5,131	15.1	56.3%	207
Mid Yorkshire TeachingWest Yorkshire	5,314	15.2	57.0%	152
South Tyneside and SunderlandNorth East and North Cumbria	8,658	15.3	56.8%	0
Liverpool University HospitalsCheshire and Merseyside	4,220	15.5	57.9%	52
Oxford University HospitalsThames Valley	7,876	15.6	56.8%	180
Buckinghamshire HealthcareThames Valley	4,871	15.7	57.8%	5
Chelsea and Westminster HospitalWest and North London	5,571	15.7	56.3%	159
East Suffolk and North EssexEssex	10,559	15.8	54.7%	90
London North West University HealthcareWest and North London	6,519	15.8	58.1%	41
Leeds Teaching HospitalsWest Yorkshire	6,795	15.9	54.9%	490
Surrey and Sussex HealthcareSurrey and Sussex	3,083	15.9	53.8%	112
Gateshead HealthNorth East and North Cumbria	1,857	16.0	56.3%	0
Royal Free LondonWest and North London	9,435	16.0	56.4%	243
BoltonGreater Manchester	2,345	16.1	55.9%	20
Gloucestershire HospitalsGloucestershire	9,620	16.1	55.0%	33
Lancashire Teaching HospitalsLancashire and South Cumbria	4,306	16.2	56.5%	23
Northern Care AllianceGreater Manchester	15,375	16.3	53.1%	783
Dartford and GraveshamKent and Medway	5,065	16.5	52.9%	164
Princess Alexandra HospitalEssex	5,528	16.7	53.4%	55
North West AngliaCentral East	7,051	16.8	53.5%	74
RotherhamSouth Yorkshire	4,994	16.8	52.8%	108
North Cheshire and MerseyCheshire and Merseyside	3,421	16.9	52.7%	84
Portsmouth Hospitals UniversityHampshire and Isle of Wight	5,198	16.9	52.1%	203
Frimley HealthSurrey and Sussex	12,482	17.0	52.6%	309
Milton Keynes University HospitalCentral East	2,976	17.0	52.4%	115
Chesterfield Royal HospitalDerby and Derbyshire	2,422	17.2	51.6%	106
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching HospitalsSouth Yorkshire	13,121	17.2	51.7%	1,123
Isle of WightHampshire and Isle of Wight	2,215	17.3	52.0%	84
University Hospitals DorsetDorset	8,337	17.3	52.7%	232
West SuffolkNorfolk and Suffolk	4,115	17.3	52.1%	67
MedwayKent and Medway	3,045	17.5	51.9%	7
West Hertfordshire Teaching HospitalsCentral East	4,980	17.5	51.1%	127
University Hospital SouthamptonHampshire and Isle of Wight	4,145	17.9	50.3%	266
Royal Devon University HealthcareDevon	10,203	18.0	49.9%	669
Great Western HospitalsBath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire	6,090	18.4	49.3%	222
Royal Cornwall HospitalsCornwall and the Isles of Scilly	5,659	18.4	49.1%	321
University Hospitals of Derby and BurtonDerby and Derbyshire	17,692	18.7	48.8%	978
University Hospitals SussexSurrey and Sussex	7,944	19.0	48.1%	494
Worcestershire Acute HospitalsHerefordshire and Worcestershire	5,585	19.4	47.2%	200
Shrewsbury and Telford HospitalShropshire, Telford and Wrekin	2,342	19.8	46.7%	4
East and North Hertfordshire TeachingCentral East	5,054	19.9	46.2%	366
Wye ValleyHerefordshire and Worcestershire	3,743	19.9	46.6%	425
Dorset County HospitalDorset	3,488	20.1	45.0%	180
Norfolk and Norwich University HospitalsNorfolk and Suffolk	7,498	20.3	46.3%	679
Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic HospitalShropshire, Telford and Wrekin	14,899	20.7	45.1%	2,092
East Kent Hospitals UniversityKent and Medway	7,777	21.0	43.3%	218
Bedfordshire HospitalsCentral East	7,273	21.2	45.3%	528
University Hospitals of LeicesterLeicester, Leicestershire and Rutland	11,503	23.0	39.3%	1,076
Mid and South EssexEssex	10,524	31.8	30.4%	2,277

The last 13 months in England

September 2025 to September 2026.

People waiting for trauma and orthopaedics in EnglandLowest 826,172, highest 869,508. The scale starts near the lowest value.

The figures

Month	Value
September 2025	869,508
October 2025	867,625
November 2025	854,156
December 2025	853,046
January 2026	845,246
February 2026	837,743
March 2026	826,172
April 2026	827,992
May 2026	835,954
June 2026	837,484
July 2026	848,807
August 2026	851,183
September 2026	837,685

Median wait for trauma and orthopaedics in England, weeksLowest 13.6 wk, highest 15.2 wk. The scale starts near the lowest value.

The figures

Month	Value
September 2025	14.3 wk
October 2025	14.4 wk
November 2025	14.3 wk
December 2025	14.7 wk
January 2026	15.2 wk
February 2026	15.0 wk
March 2026	14.5 wk
April 2026	13.9 wk
May 2026	14.2 wk
June 2026	13.8 wk
July 2026	13.6 wk
August 2026	13.9 wk
September 2026	13.9 wk

Independent hospitals on the NHS

Some independent hospitals treat NHS patients, free to the patient, and you may be able to choose one when you're referred. These are the 25 with the most NHS patients waiting for trauma and orthopaedics.

Hospital or provider	NHS patients waiting	Median wait, weeks	Under 18 weeks
Sirona Care and HealthBristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire	6,650	7.8	76.2%
Fitzwilliam HospitalCentral East	4,153	19.1	47.7%
New Hall HospitalBath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire	3,039	13.0	65.3%
Nuffield Health the Holly HospitalEssex	2,949	13.0	65.4%
Woodland HospitalNorthamptonshire	2,868	13.7	63.7%
Woodthorpe HospitalNottingham and Nottinghamshire	2,437	9.4	79.2%
The Cherwell HospitalThames Valley	2,375	12.8	65.7%
Fulwood Hall HospitalLancashire and South Cumbria	2,329	9.7	77.7%
Ppg Hospitals - IlfordNorth East London	2,250	10.0	77.1%
Oaklands HospitalGreater Manchester	2,219	10.0	77.2%
Renacres HospitalLancashire and South Cumbria	2,184	23.7	39.4%
Sulis Hospital Bath (Foxcote Avenue)Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire	2,119	10.1	73.1%
Spire Washington HospitalNorth East and North Cumbria	2,025	12.0	67.1%
Three Shires HospitalNorthamptonshire	1,946	14.1	61.4%
Ppg Hospitals - PlymouthDevon	1,943	7.4	87.6%
Euxton Hall HospitalLancashire and South Cumbria	1,828	10.6	74.9%
Spire Hull and East Riding HospitalHumber and North Yorkshire	1,791	14.0	60.8%
Spencer Private Hospitals LtdKent and Medway	1,771	16.7	54.2%
Spire Fylde Coast HospitalLancashire and South Cumbria	1,750	9.8	73.6%
Rowley Hall HospitalStaffordshire and Stoke-On-Trent	1,747	11.5	66.3%
Ppg Hospitals - BarlboroughDerby and Derbyshire	1,708	11.1	73.7%
The One Health Group PlcSouth Yorkshire	1,640	9.7	78.4%
St Hugh's HospitalHumber and North Yorkshire	1,631	10.6	76.9%
London Independent HospitalNorth East London	1,611	6.9	81.4%
Clifton Park HospitalHumber and North Yorkshire	1,571	9.9	74.2%

By area

NHS integrated care board areas, by where the hospital trust is.

Area	Waiting	Median wait, weeks	Under 18 weeks	Over a year
Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire	19,613	13.9	62.0%	277
Birmingham and Solihull	19,244	11.2	69.4%	105
Black Country	23,602	12.3	66.1%	81
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire	18,024	11.5	68.1%	129
Central East	43,420	17.0	52.5%	1,552
Cheshire and Merseyside	29,819	12.5	64.8%	358
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly	7,216	16.6	53.0%	326
Coventry and Warwickshire	11,826	10.0	74.7%	158
Derby and Derbyshire	22,860	17.4	51.3%	1,086
Devon	13,846	15.2	56.0%	736
Dorset	12,772	17.5	51.7%	417
Essex	33,418	18.9	48.7%	2,569
Gloucestershire	10,886	15.9	55.7%	44
Greater Manchester	54,286	14.2	59.8%	1,271
Hampshire and Isle of Wight	24,324	13.9	61.3%	623
Herefordshire and Worcestershire	10,538	17.8	50.5%	628
Humber and North Yorkshire	23,180	13.1	63.6%	335
Kent and Medway	29,621	13.9	62.1%	449
Lancashire and South Cumbria	30,674	11.3	67.0%	455
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland	13,003	21.0	44.0%	1,095
Lincolnshire	7,532	12.2	68.3%	60
Norfolk and Suffolk	17,164	16.3	54.4%	799
North East London	21,470	13.1	63.9%	151
North East and North Cumbria	61,830	11.4	69.0%	560
Northamptonshire	7,242	13.4	64.5%	29
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire	7,938	12.1	68.2%	58
Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin	25,114	15.7	56.7%	2,096
Somerset	11,317	14.0	60.6%	383
South East London	16,016	13.1	63.4%	351
South West London	18,690	12.0	67.3%	60
South Yorkshire	24,900	15.6	55.7%	1,298
Staffordshire and Stoke-On-Trent	9,492	12.2	63.1%	223
Surrey and Sussex	69,767	13.6	62.1%	1,796
Thames Valley	19,871	13.8	63.2%	202
West Yorkshire	22,459	12.8	63.3%	696
West and North London	44,711	13.0	64.5%	496

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.

More: NHS hip replacement waits, knee replacement waits and hip and knee replacement prices abroad.

All figures as JSON (England, every specialty, area and trust)
All figures as CSV (one row per hospital trust or provider and specialty)
A plain-text summary in Markdown, for AI assistants
One trust: /nhs-waiting-times/<trust>.json, the trust list is in the JSON above

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 NHS wait for trauma and orthopaedics?

At the end of September 2026, 837,685 people were waiting for trauma and orthopaedics in England. Half had waited more than 13.9 weeks so far, 61.2% under 18 weeks and 21,952 over a year. People admitted for treatment that month had waited a median of 24.2 weeks. Source: NHS England.

Which hospital trusts have the shortest trauma and orthopaedics waits?

In September 2026, the shortest median waits among trusts with at least 50 people waiting were at Birmingham Community Healthcare (2.4 weeks), Cornwall Partnership (4.0 weeks), East Lancashire Hospitals (6.9 weeks). The table on this page lists every trust.

Can I choose a hospital with a shorter wait?

The NHS says you should be offered a choice at the point of referral, and in many cases you can choose the hospital or service, including some independent hospitals that treat NHS patients. See "Your choices in the NHS" and ask your GP.

Looking at treatment abroad as well?

If you're weighing up treatment abroad, tell us what you're looking into. We send your enquiry to relevant, pre-vetted clinics, and up to 3 that can help contact you directly.

Thera is free for patients. No clinic can pay to change the prices we publish.