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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: November 2025

Specialty/Procedure	Average Wait Time (in weeks)	Explanation of Procedure
Breast Surgery
Simple mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy	4
Split autograph of skin + excision of BCC/SCC	17
Wide local excision and sentinel node biopsy	36
Exchange for permanent implant	24
Excision biopsy	10
Revision of scar	33	Reduce the appearance & impact of the mastectomy scar
Dermatology
Excision biopsy	18	Remove by excision an area of tissue for closer examination
Punch biopsy	25
Excision lesion of skin	18	Removal of a skin lesion by completely cutting it out
Ear Nose and Throat (ENT)
Tonsillectomy	52	Surgical removal of tonsils
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy	38	Surgical removal of tonsils and adenoids
Septoplasty of nose + turbinoplasty	57
Excision of lump/lesion/cyst	55
Septoplasty of nose	58	Straightening of the nasal septum
Endoscopic sinus surgery / polypectomy	46
Grommets / t-tube	27	Insertion/removal of grommet or t-tube
Total thyroidectomy	27	Surgical removal of all of the thyroid gland
Atticotomy	35
Adenoidectomy	32	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	48
Excision of lump/lesion/cyst	55
Laparoscopic repair hiatus hernia	57
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy	37	Laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder
Para-umbilical hernia repair	53
Excision biopsy	48
Laparoscopy diagnostic	48
Exploration abdominal wall	23
Anti reflux surgery	41
Gynaecology
Hysteroscopy + polypectomy	24	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	56	Surgical removal of the uterus through the vagina
Bilateral salpingoophorectomy	33	Surgical removal of bilateral ovaries and fallopian tubes
Total laparoscopic hysterectomy	29	Laparoscopic removal of the uterus
Anterior & posterior colporrhaphy	59	Anterior and posterior vagina wall repair
Collagen injection bladder	59
Laparoscopy diagnostic	31	Laparoscopic examination inside the abdomen
Repair rectocele/colporrhaphy posterior	27
Laparoscopic excision endometriosis	28	Laparoscopic removal of or destroy endometriotic tissue in the pelvis
Ophthalmology
Cataract surgery	41	Cataract extraction and intraocular lens implant inserted
Excision of BCC/SCC	40
Excision lesion eyelid	60
Correction of ptosis of eyelid using aponeurosis technique	60	Corrective surgery to elevate the eyelid
Lateral tarsal strip	44
Bilateral recession of medial recti muscles of eyes	24
Blepharoplasty upper eyelid	42
Paediatric Trauma and Orthopaedics
Removal of metalwork	22
Wedge resection toe nail	21
Ankle ligament reconstruction	32
Osteotomy high tibial	45
Achilles tendon lengthening	37
Calcaneal osteotomy	11	Surgical procedure to reposition the heel back in line with the lower leg
Excision of Bone	64	Surgery to excise bone
Plastic Surgery
Excision of BCC/SCC	40
Excision of lump/lesion/cyst	57	Removal of lump/lesion/cyst by excision
Excision of lipoma	56
Excision biopsy	48
Carpal tunnel decompression	24	Surgery to release pressure on the median nerve at the wrist
Trauma and Orthopaedics
Total knee replacement	54	Surgical procedure to replace the weight-bearing surfaces of the knee joint
Carpal tunnel decompression	23	Surgery to release pressure on the median nerve at the wrist
Primary total hip replacement	36	Surgical procedure to replace the hip joint
Unicondylar knee replacement	54	Surgery for a partial (unicondylar) knee replacement
Arthroscopy of knee	34
Fusion 1ST MTPJ	32	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	50	Surgical procedure to replace the worn surfaces with a metal ball and plastic socket
Removal of metalwork	20
Urology
Transurethral resection prostate (T.U.R.P)	18	Surgical procedure that involves cutting away a section of the prostate
Circumcision	25	Surgical removal of the foreskin
Flexible ureteroscopy and laser	9	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	32	Surgical procedure to cut or seal the tubes that carry a man's sperm to permanently prevent pregnancy
Excision of epididymal cyst	35
Ureteroscopic fragmentation calculus ureter	14
Litholapaxy	13
Excision of hydrocele	20	Surgical procedure to remove or repair a fluid-filled sac surrounding the testicle
Injection botox into bladder wall	20
Vascular Surgery
VNUS - endovenous radiofrequency ablation	44
Ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy of varicose vein leg	31
Avulsion varicose vein of leg	58