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.
Visit our preparing for surgery section for information on how to prepare.
You can look up the current expected waiting time for the surgical procedure in the table below.
Select the service Breast surgery Procedure Average wait time (in weeks) Explanation of procedure 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 Procedure Average wait time (in weeks) Explanation of procedure 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) Procedure Average wait time (in weeks) Explanation of procedure 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 (including colorectal and UGI) Procedure Average wait time (in weeks) Explanation of procedure 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 Procedure Average wait time (in weeks) Explanation of procedure 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 Procedure Average wait time (in weeks) Explanation of procedure Cataract surgery 41 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 Procedure Average wait time (in weeks) Explanation of procedure 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 Procedure Average wait time (in weeks) Explanation of procedure 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 Procedure Average wait time (in weeks) Explanation of procedure 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 Procedure Average wait time (in weeks) Explanation of procedure 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 Procedure Average wait time (in weeks) VNUS - endovenous radiofrequency ablation 44 Ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy of varicose vein leg 31 Avulsion varicose vein of leg 58
