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Waiting times for surgery

Waiting times for surgical procedures depend on the type of treatment you are waiting for and your individual needs.

NHS hospitals and the independent (private) sector hospitals are working together to increase the number of people who can be treated daily. However, due to the number of procedures that need to be carried out you may have to wait longer than would usually be expected.

The number of people on our waiting lists change daily, therefore it is very hard to tell you exactly how long you will have to wait. We work very hard to keep you up to date on this and to give you an indication of how long you may have to wait for your planned procedure.

For information on how to prepare yourself your surgery, visit the Suffolk and North East Essex web site.

You can look up the current expected waiting time for the surgical procedure in the table below.

This information was last updated: September 2025

Specialty/Procedure	Average Wait Time (in weeks)	Explanation of Procedure
Breast Surgery
Re-excision of margins	47
Split autograph of skin + excision of BCC/SCC	36
Wide local excision and sentinel node biopsy	21
Exchange for permanent implant	10
Excision biopsy	7
Revision of scar	25	Reduce the appearance & impact of the mastectomy scar
Dermatology
Excision biopsy	41	Remove by excision an area of tissue for closer examination
Punch biopsy	29
Excision lesion of skin	21	Removal of a skin lesion by completely cutting it out
Ear Nose and Throat (ENT)
Tonsillectomy	49	Surgical removal of tonsils
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy	43	Surgical removal of tonsils and adenoids
Septoplasty of nose + turbinoplasty	59
Excision of lump/lesion/cyst	50
Septoplasty of nose	59	Straightening of the nasal septum
Endoscopic sinus surgery / polypectomy	41
Grommets / t-tube	36	Insertion/removal of grommet or t-tube
Total thyroidectomy	39	Surgical removal of all of the thyroid gland
Atticotomy	16
Adenoidectomy	44	Removal of adenoids - small lumps of tissue at the back of the nose, above the roof of the mouth
General Surgery (incl. Colorectal and UGI)
Inguinal hernia repair	45
THD - haemorrhoids	55
Laparoscopic repair hiatus hernia	26
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy	26	Laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder
Para-umbilical hernia repair	55
Excision biopsy	36
Excision of anal skin tags	36
Lap assisted right hemicolectomy	49
Haemorrhoidectomy	26
Gynaecology
Hysteroscopy + polypectomy	19	Examination of the inside of the uterus (womb) + removal of small lumps, such as fibroids and polyps
Hysteroscopy + endometrial biopsy	13	Examination of the inside of the uterus (womb) + removal of a sample of lining
Vaginal hysterectomy	61	Surgical removal of the uterus through the vagina
Bilateral salpingoophorectomy	62	Surgical removal of bilateral ovaries and fallopian tubes
Total laparoscopic hysterectomy	30	Laparoscopic removal of the uterus
Anterior & posterior colporrhaphy	63	Anterior and posterior vagina wall repair
Collagen injection bladder	51
Laparoscopy diagnostic	48	Laparoscopic examination inside the abdomen
Repair rectocele/colporrhaphy posterior	62
Laparoscopic excision endometriosis	51	Laparoscopic removal of or destroy endometriotic tissue in the pelvis
Ophthalmology
Cataract surgery	36	Cataract extraction and intraocular lens implant inserted
Excision of BCC/SCC	38
Excision lesion eyelid	47
Correction of ptosis of eyelid using aponeurosis technique	38	Corrective surgery to elevate the eyelid
Lateral tarsal strip	32
Bilateral recession of medial recti muscles of eyes	17
Correction cicatricial ectropion	34
Paediatric Trauma and Orthopaedics
Removal of metalwork	28
Excision ganglion foot	40
Ankle ligament reconstruction	49
Osteotomy high tibial	56
Achilles tendon lengthening	33
Calcaneal osteotomy	58	Surgical procedure to reposition the heel back in line with the lower leg
Excision of Bone	44	Surgery to excise bone
Plastic Surgery
Excision of BCC/SCC	32
Excision of lump/lesion/cyst	50	Removal of lump/lesion/cyst by excision
Excision of lipoma	57
Biopsy	30
Carpal tunnel decompression	25	Surgery to release pressure on the median nerve at the wrist
Trauma and Orthopaedics
Total knee replacement	47	Surgical procedure to replace the weight-bearing surfaces of the knee joint
Carpal tunnel decompression	25	Surgery to release pressure on the median nerve at the wrist
Primary total hip replacement	34	Surgical procedure to replace the hip joint
Unicondylar knee replacement	50	Surgery for a partial (unicondylar) knee replacement
Excision of lump/lesion/cyst	64
Fusion 1ST MTPJ	35	Surgical procedure to irreversibly stiffen the joint at the base of the big toe while removing any bony lumps and correcting a deformity
Shoulder replacement	57	Surgical procedure to replace the worn surfaces with a metal ball and plastic socket
Removal of metalwork	28
Urology
Transurethral resection prostate (T.U.R.P)	30	Surgical procedure that involves cutting away a section of the prostate
Circumcision	26	Surgical removal of the foreskin
Flexible ureteroscopy and laser	14	Procedure for the treatment and investigation of kidney stones, tumours, or obstructions
Transurethral resection of bladder tumour (T.U.R.B.T)	4	Surgical procedure to take a biopsy from or remove the bladder tumour
Vasectomy	30	Surgical procedure to cut or seal the tubes that carry a man's sperm to permanently prevent pregnancy
Excision of epididymal cyst	29
Ureteroscopic fragmentation calculus ureter	23
Litholapaxy	16
Excision of hydrocele	24	Surgical procedure to remove or repair a fluid-filled sac surrounding the testicle
Injection botox into bladder wall	15
Vascular Surgery
VNUS - endovenous radiofrequency ablation	45
Ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy of varicose vein leg	60
Avulsion varicose vein of leg	52