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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: 12th November 2024

Specialty/ProcedureWait Time
(in weeks)		Explanation of procedure
Breast Surgery
Exchange for permanent Implant 6  
Implant exchange +/- capsulectomy 6  
Revision Mastectomy Scar 30 Reduce the appearance & impact of the mastectomy scar.
Colorectal Surgery
(EUA) Examination Under Anaesthetic 25  
Haemorrhoidectomy 42 Surgery to remove Internal or External Haemorrhoids.
Laying open of low anal fistula 38  
Reversal of Hartmann's procedure 35  
Excision of Anal Skin Tags 36  
Dermatology
Excision biopsy 54 Remove by Excision an area of tissue for closer examination.
Excision Lesion of Skin 52 Removal of a skin lesion by completely cutting it out.
Ear, nose and throat (ENT)
Adenoidectomy 46 Removal of adenoids - small lumps of tissue at the back of the nose, above the roof of the mouth 
Atticotomy 27  
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) + Ear - EUA 52 A test to see how well sound moves from the hearing nerve to the brainstem. It is used to check for hearing loss.
Bony Meatoplasty 64 A procedure to widen the opening of the ear canal.
Closure of Perforation of Septum of Nose 51  
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery 41 Opening the sinuses more widely into the nasal cavity
Excision lesion of cheek 44 Removal of a skin lesion by completely cutting it out.
Grommets / T-Tube 28 Insertion/Removal of grommet or T-Tube
Microlaryngoscopy 31 Examination of the larynx under a general anaesthetic.
Myringoplasty 56 Repair of a perforation of the eardrum.
Parotidectomy 30 Removal of the Parotid gland.
Partial excision parotid gland 53  
Pinnaplasty 50 Ear Pinning.
Septoplasty of Nose 44 Straightening of the nasal septum.
Septorhinoplasty 37 Straightening of the nasal septum and reshaping the outside parts of the nose.
Stapling Pharyngeal Pouch 39  
Tonsillectomy 59 Surgical removal of Tonsils.
Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy (removal of tonsils and adenoids) 50 Surgical removal of Tonsils and Adenoids.
Total Thyroidectomy 36 Surgical removal of all of the Thyroid Gland.
Turbinoplasty 43 Reshape the Turbinates.
Tympanoplasty 50 Repair or reconstruct the eardrum (Tympanic Membrane).
General Surgery
Excision Pilonidal Sinus + Suture (Bascoms) 28  
Haemorrhoidectomy 58 Surgery to remove Internal or External Haemorrhoids.
Hernia Repair 48  
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy 44 Laparoscopic Removal of the Gallbladder
Para-Umbilical Hernia Repair 45  
Rectum - E.U.A 37 Examination under anaesthetic of the rectum.
Gynaecology
Abdominal Hysterectomy 14 Partial or Total removal of the uterus through an incision in the lower abdomen.
Anterior and Posterior Colporrhaphy 71 Anterior and posterior vagina wall repair.
AnteriorColporrhaphy /Repair 72 Posterior vaginal repair.
Bilateral Salpingoohroectomy (BSO) 44 Surgical removal of bilateral overies and fillopian tubes.
Burch colposuspension 73 Support the bladder neck.
Endometrial Ablation 33 A procedure to destroy the lining of the uterus.
Hysteroscopy + Endometrial Biopsy 35 Examination of the inside of the uterus (womb) + removal of a sample of lining.
Hysteroscopy + Polypectomy 29 Examination of the inside of the uterus (womb) + removal of small lumps, such as fibroids and polyps.
Laparoscopic Adhesiolysis Ovary 49 Breaking down or seperation of adhesions (Scar Tissue)
Laparoscopic Excision Endometriosis 57 Laparoscopic removal of or destroy Endometriotic tissue in the pelvis.
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy 60 Laparoscopic removal of the uterus.
Laparoscopic Sterilisation 45 Laparoscopically put clips onto fallopian tubes.
Laparoscopic Unilateral Salpingoophorectomy 38 Laparoscopic removal of one ovary and fallopian tube.
Laparoscopy Diagnostic 26 Laparoscopic examination inside the abdomen.
Marsupialisation lesion vulva 59  
Marsupialization Bartholins Cyst 13  
Ovarian Cystectomy 33 Surgical removal of cyst from ovary.
Vaginal Hysterectomy 72 Surgical removal of the Uterus through the vagina.
Ophthalmology
Bilateral recession of lateral recti muscles of eyes 14  
Blepharoplasty upper Eyelid - unilateral 24 Surgery to preserve binocular vision and stereopsis and to prevent its further loss.
Blepharoplasty upper Eyelid - bilateral 25 Surgery to preserve binocular vision and stereopsis and to prevent its further loss.
Cataract Surgery 45 Cataract extraction and intraocular lens implant inserted.
Cauterisation including cryotherapy to conjunctival lesion 28 Procedure to remove a conjunctival lesion by cauterisation (heat treatment) or cryotherapy (liquid Nitrogen).
Collagen Cross Linking 33 Treatment to prevent the progression of keratoconus.
Correction of ptosis of eyelid using aponeurosis technique 39 Corrective surgery to elevate the eyelid.
Dacryocystorhinostomy and Insertion Stent 48 Surgical procedure to unblock tear ducts and insert temporary silicone stents.
Endoscopic Dacryocysto-rhinostomy 20 Endoscopic surgery to unblock tear ducts.
Endothelial Keratoplasty 65 Cornea graft surgery to replace the inside layer of the cornea with the inside layer from a donor cornea.
Inferior Oblique Anterior Transposition 13 Surgical procedure to weaken the inferior oblique muscle and decrease dissociated vertical deviation.
Intravitreal Implant 2 Ophthalmic Intravitreal injection.
Penetrating keratoplasty 40 Cornea graft surgery - (full thickness transplant).
Paediatric, Trauma and Orthopaedics
Calcaneal osteotomy 36 Surgical procedure to reposition the heel back in line with the lower leg.
Excision of Bone 67 Surgery to excise bone.
Fixation of epiphysis 14 Surgery to stabilise the epiphysis (tip of a long bone) by fixation.
Achilles Tendon Lengthening 57  
Plastic Surgery
Excision of lipoma 56 Removal of lipoma by excision.
Excision of Lump/lesion/cyst 60 Removal of Lump/Lesion/Cyst by excision.
Revision of Scar 69  
Trauma and Orthopaedics
Achilles Tendon Lengthening 34 Surgical procedure to make the Achilles tendon longer.
Amputation of toe/toes 30 Surgical removal of toe/toes.
Ankle Arthroscopy 65 Keyhole surgery to examine or repair your ankle joint.
Ankle Ligament Reconstruction 51 Surgery to reconstruct damaged ligaments on the outside of your ankle.
Anterior cruciate ligament Repair 48 Surgery to replace your torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Arthroscopic meniscectomy 43 Keyhole surgery to examine or repair the meniscus.
Arthroscopic Sub-acromial decompression 50 Keyhole procedure to enlarge the space under the arch, to prevent the pinching and rubbing of the tendons.
Arthroscopy of Knee 20 Keyhole surgery to examine or repair the knee joints.
Bunionectomy 22 Surgery to remove the bunion from around the toe joint.
Carpal Tunnel Decompression 32 Surgery to release pressure on the median nerve at the wrist.
Cheilectomy 44 Surgery to remove a bony lump on the top of the main joint of the big toe.
Excision of Bone 60 Surgery to excise bone.
Excision of bursa 60 Surgery to excise or surgically remove the bursa.
Excision of ganglion 63 Surgery to excise or surgically remove the ganglion cyst from near a joint or tendon.
Excision Olecranon Bursa 43 Surgery to excise or surgically remove the olecranon bursa.
Fasciectomy 65 Surgical release of the finger.
Flexor tenolysis 67 Surgical procedure to repair the flexor tendon.
Fusion 1ST MTPJ 48 Surgical procedure to irreversibly stiffen the joint at the base of the big toe while removing any bony lumps and correcting a deformity.
Hallux Valgus Correction 57 Surgical correction of a deformity of the big toe.
Hip Replacement 53 Surgical procedure to replace the hip joint.
Injection (s) into joints - Therapeutic 33  
Knee Replacement 58 Surgical procedure to replace the weight-bearing surfaces of the knee joint.
ORIF Ankle 14 Open reduction and Internal fixation (ORIF) is a surgical procedure to stabilize and heal a broken bone.
Osteotomy high Tibial 56 Surgical procedure to alter the length or change the alignment of the bone.
Proximal Femoral Osteotomy 56 Surgical procedure to correct bony deformities.
Removal of metalwork 10  
Revision knee replacement 69 Surgical removal of the previously inserted knee replacement and inserting a new replacement.
Revision of total Hip replacement 44 Surgical removal of one or both parts of a previously inserted total hip replacement and inserting a new replacement.
Shoulder Arthroscopy 43 Keyhole surgery for examining or repairing the shoulder joint.
Shoulder Replacement 71 Surgical procedure to replace the worn surfaces with a metal ball and plastic socket.
Tennis Elbow Release 68 Surgical procedure to release or remove damaged tissue in the elbow.
Trapeziumectomy 61 Surgical procedure removing the bone (trapezium) from the wrist that sits at the base of the thumb.
Trigger finger release 38 Surgical procedure releasing the affected sheath to allow the tendon inside it to move freely again.
Triple fusion - Subtalar, Calcaneocuboid, Talonavicular 53 Surgical procedure to fuse or stiffen three joints in the foot.
Ulna Nerve Decompression 63 Surgical procedure designed to explore the region around the elbow through which the ulnar nerve passes.
Unicondylar knee replacement 63 Surgery for a partial (unicondylar) knee replacement.
Urology    
Circumcision 43 Surgical removal of the foreskin.
Excision of Hydrocele 45 Surgical procedure to remove or repair a fluid-filled sac surrounding the testicle.
Flexible Ureteroscopy and Laser 45 Procedure for the treatment and investigation of kidney stones, tumors, or obstructions.
Orchidectomy 63 Surgical procedure to remove a testicle.
Prepuceplasty 65 Surgical procedure to allow the foreskin to be pulled fully back from the end of the penis.
Radical nephrectomy 48 Surgical removal of the whole kidney, the ureter, the adrenal gland, local lymph nodes, and surrounding tissue.
Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumour 21 Surgical procedure to take a biopsy from or remove the bladder tumor.
Transurethral resection prostate 34 Surgical procedure that involves cutting away a section of the prostate.
Vasectomy  49 Surgical procedure to cut or seal the tubes that carry a man's sperm to permanently prevent pregnancy.
Vascular Surgery
Varicose Vein Surgery 58