Outpatient waiting times

After we receive your GP referral, it is reviewed by a clinician in a process called triage. This helps us decide the best next step for your care.

Following triage, one of the following may happen:

  • You are offered an appointment with a doctor, nurse or specialist.
  • You are referred for further tests, such as an X-ray or MRI scan.
  • Advice is sent to your GP so they can continue to manage your care.

If you need an appointment or tests, we will contact you as soon as possible with the earliest available date. You will then receive a confirmation letter with the time, date and details of your appointment.

You may be asked to attend a face-to-face appointment at the hospital, or a virtual appointment by telephone or video call.

Below, you can find an overview of current waiting times for specific specialties and conditions. We aim to update this information monthly.

Please note that your personal waiting time may vary, depending on your individual needs, your health and the type of service you require.

What to do while you are waiting

For advice and practical support to help you and those you care for stay well while waiting for surgery, visit: Suffolk and North East Essex Wellbeing Support Services.

If your symptoms get worse while you are waiting for your appointment, test or operation, you should contact your GP or NHS 111 for advice.

Select the service

Breast

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Symptomatic GP referrals4-6Monday, Tuesday and FridayWest Suffolk Hospital

Colorectal

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Routine31Monday - ThursdayWest Suffolk Hospital, Sudbury Health Centre, Thetford Healthy Living Centre, Newmarket Community Hospital

General surgery

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Routine9Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and FridayWest Suffolk Hospital, Sudbury Health Centre

Ear, nose and throat (ENT)

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Routine15Monday - FridayWest Suffolk Hospital, Newmarket Community Hospital, Thetford Healthy Living Centre, Sudbury Health Centre
Voice20FridayWest Suffolk Hospital

Ophthalmology

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Retinal28Monday, Tuesday, ThursdayWest Suffolk Hospital
General36Thursday - AMWest Suffolk Hospital
Paediatrics20Monday, Wednesday, ThursdayWest Suffolk Hospital
Occular Motility12ThursdayWest Suffolk Hospital
Oculoplastics28Monday, Thursday, FridayWest Suffolk Hospital
Glaucoma20Tuesday, WednesdayWest Suffolk Hospital
Corneal20Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, FridayWest Suffolk Hospital
Cataract24Tuesday, WednesdayWest Suffolk Hospital

Orthopaedics

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Shoulder and Elbow37Tuesday - FridayWest Suffolk Hospital, Sudbury Health Centre, Newmarket Community Hospital
Hand and Wrist33Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, FridayTelephone Clinic, Thetford Healthy Living Centre, Newmarket Community Hospital
Hips6Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, FridayWest Suffolk Hospital, Newmarket Community Hospital, Sudbury Health Centre
Knees16Monday - FridayWest Suffolk Hospital, Newmarket Community Hospital, Sudbury Health Centre, Thetford Healthy Living Centre
Foot and Ankle6Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, FridayWest Suffolk Hospital
Paediatrics52 plusTuesdayWest Suffolk Hospital

Plastics

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
General24Monday - FridayWest Suffolk Hospital, Newmarket Community Hospital

Urology

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Routine20Monday - FridayWest Suffolk Hospital, Newmarket Community Hospital, Thetford Healthy Living Centre

Vascular

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Routine44Monday - ThursdayWest Suffolk Hospital

Cardiology

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Routine16Monday - Friday, all dayWest Suffolk Hospital

Dermatology

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Routine32Monday - Friday, all dayWest Suffolk Hospital, Thetford Healthy Living Centre, Newmarket Community Hospital, Sudbury Health Centre, Haverhill
Paediatrics Routine52 plusMonday, TuesdayWest Suffolk Hospital

Diabetes

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Routine32Monday - FridayWest Suffolk Hospital, Sudbury Health Centre, Newmarket Community Hospital

Endocrinology

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Routine28Monday - FridayWest Suffolk Hospital

Gastroenterology

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Routine20Monday - SaturdayWest Suffolk Hospital, Sudbury Health Centre, Newmarket Community Hospital

Hepatology

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Routine20Monday - SaturdayWest Suffolk Hospital, Sudbury Health Centre, Newmarket Community Hospital

Nephrology

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Routine6Monday - FridayWest Suffolk Hospital

Neurology

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Routine20Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, FridayWest Suffolk Hospital, Sudbury Health Centre, Thetford Healthy Living Centre, Botesdale

Pain management

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Routine52 plus

Respiratory

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Routine12Monday - FridayWest Suffolk Hospital, Newmarket Community Hospital

Rheumatology

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
Routine12Monday - FridayWest Suffolk Hospital, Newmarket Community Hospital, Thetford Health Living Centre, Sudbury Health Centre, Botesdale, Stowmarket

Gynaecology

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
General32Monday - ThursdayWest Suffolk Hospital, Thetford Healthy Living Centre
Menopause36MondayWest Suffolk Hospital
Peri-menopause0
Vulval36FridayWest Suffolk Hospital
Uro-gynae6Tuesday - FridayWest Suffolk Hospital
Hysteroscopy40Tuesday, WednesdayWest Suffolk Hospital

Paediatrics

Clinic typeCurrent wait time (weeks)Days of the week clinics are heldLocations
General40Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, FridayWest Suffolk Hospital
Cardiology8Monday, Thursday, FridayWest Suffolk Hospital
Respiratory28MondayWest Suffolk Hospital
Allergy52 plusTuesday, Thursday, FridayWest Suffolk Hospital