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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/ProcedureAverage 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