Health & Lifestyle

How bad are waiting lists at YOUR hospital? Use our search tool to find out: 60% of patients at busiest NHS trusts have been stuck in system for at least 18 weeks

Sixty per cent of patients at England’s busiest hospital trusts are not being treated within the NHS’s time target, official figures show.

Sick Brits have the legal right to undergo routine procedures, such as hip and knee replacements, within 18 weeks of being referred.

But not a single NHS trust met the acceptable threshold of ensuring 92 per cent of patients are seen within the time-frame, a cornerstone of the health service’s own rulebook. 

Nationally, hospitals in England haven’t met the target in seven years. 

In some parts of the country, only four in 10 patients on the list have been so for 18 weeks or fewer.

MailOnline analysis of trust data found delays were worst at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, where just 42.4 per cent waited four-and-a-half months or less before starting treatment. Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (43.2 per cent) and University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (46.1 per cent) also fell way behind the target

MailOnline analysis of trust data found delays were worst at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, where just 42.4 per cent waited four-and-a-half months or less before starting treatment. Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (43.2 per cent) and University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (46.1 per cent) also fell way behind the target

The data, crunched into a handy search tool for MailOnline readers, was labelled a sign that the ailing health service has ‘spiralled out of control’. 

Covid’s disruption saw waiting lists hit an all-time high during the pandemic. Never-ending strikes have only exacerbated the crisis, with tens of thousands of ops being cancelled and 7.6million now stuck in the system.

It comes as soaring numbers of patients from Wales are seeking NHS care in England to escape longer waits, separate NHS figures show.

Monthly stats from NHS England show that just 59.2 per cent of patients (4.5million) referred for treatment had been waiting fewer than 18 weeks in June.

It means 3.1million had to wait longer, including more than 380,000 who have been in the queue for at least one year.

MailOnline analysis of trust data found delays were worst at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, where just 42.4 per cent of the list had been referred within the last 18 weeks.

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (43.2 per cent) and University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (46.1 per cent) also fell behind the target.

Other trusts that dipped below the 50 per cent mark included:

  • University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (46.70 per cent)
  • Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (47.10 per cent)
  • Stockport NHS Foundation Trust (48.70 per cent)
  • Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (49.30 per cent)
  • Worcestershire Royal Hospital (49.60 per cent)
  • York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (49.70 per cent)
  • East & North Hertfordshire NHS Trust (49.80 per cent)

At the other end of the scale came Royal Berkshire Hospital (83.9 per cent) and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (80.3 per cent).

Wes Streeting, Shadow Health Secretary, said: ‘The Conservatives have run the NHS into the ground over 13 years, and patients paying the price with longer and longer waits for treatment. Millions have been waiting for months, many in pain and agony, before they get the care they need.

‘Despite Rishi Sunak’s pledge to cut waiting lists, an extra 600,000 patients are waiting for treatment today, compared to when he entered Downing Street.

‘With Labour, the NHS will be there for patients when they need it, once again. We will train the staff the NHS needs to treat patients on time again, and reform the service to make it fit for the future.’

Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care Spokesperson Daisy Cooper told MailOnline: ‘This is yet more evidence that the Government is running the NHS into the ground while patients pay the price for Conservative incompetence.

‘Millions of people are being left in limbo on NHS waiting lists. 

‘Ministers have let the NHS spiral out of control with its failure to tackle staff shortages and its failure to repair crumbling hospitals. 

‘The Government needs to get a grip and fix our NHS and social care services now before more and more people needlessly suffer.’

England's backlog, for procedures like hip and knee replacements, now stands at 7.6million, official figures revealed today. It means roughly one in seven people across the country are currently stuck in the system awaiting care. More than 380,000 patients have gone a year without being treated, often in agony

England’s backlog, for procedures like hip and knee replacements, now stands at 7.6million, official figures revealed today. It means roughly one in seven people across the country are currently stuck in the system awaiting care. More than 380,000 patients have gone a year without being treated, often in agony

More than 700,000 NHS appointments have been cancelled since strikes began seven months ago. In the latest five-day walkout by junior doctors, more than 100,000 were called off

More than 700,000 NHS appointments have been cancelled since strikes began seven months ago. In the latest five-day walkout by junior doctors, more than 100,000 were called off

Junior doctors took to picket lines at 7am on Friday as part of a four-day walkout, further adding to delays in treating sick Brits. Pictured: Striking medics outside University College Hospital in London on August 14

Junior doctors took to picket lines at 7am on Friday as part of a four-day walkout, further adding to delays in treating sick Brits. Pictured: Striking medics outside University College Hospital in London on August 14

Junior doctors took to picket lines at 7am on Friday as part of a four-day walkout, further adding to delays in treating sick Brits. Pictured: Striking medics outside University College Hospital in London on August 14

Junior doctors took to picket lines at 7am on Friday as part of a four-day walkout, further adding to delays in treating sick Brits. Pictured: Striking medics outside University College Hospital in London on August 14

MailOnline’s analysis ruled out specialist NHS trusts, such as ones for cancer, children, women, and orthopaedics.

The data looks at routine operations and does not include cancer patients — who need to be seen quicker.

The swathe of latest figures, released by NHS England last week, also show that the total number of people waiting for treatment now stands at 7.57million.

It is the highest figure recorded since records began in 2007. For comparison, the toll stood at around 4.4million when Covid struck. 

The average wait for patients is 14 weeks, compared to nine weeks pre-pandemic. 

Covid-induced delays, a huge staffing crisis, devastating strikes and high demand for NHS care have fuelled the problem.

The NHS says staff are continuing to chip away at the list, with the number of people forced to wait more than a year falling by 2,000 in June.

In a bid to speed up progress, the health service has launched a tool that allows staff to flag available treatment slots in hospital across the country, including in the independent sector.

Since widespread NHS industrial action launched in December, nearly 800,000 hospital appointments have been rescheduled.

Junior doctors took to picket lines at 7am on Friday as part of a four-day walkout, further adding to delays in treating sick Brits.

A spokesperson for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust said: ‘Alongside the rest of the NHS, MFT has been working hard to reduce both the average and the longest waiting times for our patients. This work was ongoing throughout 22/23 and will continue in 23/24 as a priority.’ 

A spokesperson for Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: ‘Colleagues and teams across the whole hospital are working tirelessly to bring all of our appointments forward where possible, with patients being seen and treated in order of clinical priority.

‘The Trust is constantly reviewing our waiting lists and will contact patients as soon as possible if their appointment does change.’ 

How likely are you to be seen within the 18-week NHS target at your trust? 
NHS Trust Proportion waiting within 18 weeks (%) Half of patients were waiting less than (weeks) 92 out of 100 patients were waiting less than (weeks) Number of patients waiting to start treatment
MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 42.40% 22.1 59 199,186
MILTON KEYNES UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 43.20% 20.9 51 39,357
UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS SUSSEX NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 46.10% 19.8 54.2 145,312
UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS BIRMINGHAM NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 46.70% 19.7 54.7 139,536
COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 47.10% 19.5 54.3 33,821
STOCKPORT NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 48.70% 18.7 53.1 48,249
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST 49.30% 18.5 54.3 46,035
WORCESTERSHIRE ACUTE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST 49.60% 18.2 52.8 64,904
YORK AND SCARBOROUGH TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 49.70% 18.2 52.1 51,634
EAST AND NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE NHS TRUST 49.80% 18.1 52.8 63,196
JAMES PAGET UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 49.80% 18.1 52.7 33,867
EAST SUSSEX HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST 50.00% 18 47.4 62,495
FRIMLEY HEALTH NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 50.00% 18 48.9 83,269
UNITED LINCOLNSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST 50.40% 17.8 54.1 73,313
NORFOLK AND NORWICH UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 51.20% 17.4 54.1 85,535
THE HILLINGDON HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 52.10% 17 47.7 27,944
UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS COVENTRY AND WARWICKSHIRE NHS TRUST 52.10% 17.1 52.1 69,727
UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS BRISTOL AND WESTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 52.40% 16.9 53 67,180
NORTH WEST ANGLIA NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 52.50% 16.9 49.5 80,526
WARRINGTON AND HALTON TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 52.50% 17 51.7 32,021
LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 52.90% 16.7 48.8 77,625
WRIGHTINGTON, WIGAN AND LEIGH NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 52.90% 16.8 50.3 54,031
SANDWELL AND WEST BIRMINGHAM HOSPITALS NHS TRUST 53.00% 16.9 46.7 77,331
NORTHERN CARE ALLIANCE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 53.10% 16.5 51.5 155,322
TORBAY AND SOUTH DEVON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 53.20% 16.3 54.7 39,425
UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF DERBY AND BURTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 53.40% 16.6 48.9 110,690
MID AND SOUTH ESSEX NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 53.50% 16.6 48.9 182,684
THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL NHS TRUST 53.50% 16.4 52.8 27,137
BARTS HEALTH NHS TRUST 53.60% 16.4 49 118,971
HAMPSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 53.60% 16.6 50 54,963
UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF LEICESTER NHS TRUST 53.90% 16.3 51.2 117,494
UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF NORTH MIDLANDS NHS TRUST 54.20% 16.1 47.1 78,640
BEDFORDSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 54.50% 16.2 46.9 93,338
ROYAL DEVON UNIVERSITY HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 54.50% 16 53 77,602
EAST KENT HOSPITALS UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 54.80% 16.1 46.2 83,467
THE SHREWSBURY AND TELFORD HOSPITAL NHS TRUST 54.80% 15.7 49.7 35,176
UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS DORSET NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 55.10% 16 48.6 74,454
EAST CHESHIRE NHS TRUST 55.40% 15.8 44.1 12,876
GREAT WESTERN HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 55.40% 15.8 49.3 37,829
WEST HERTFORDSHIRE TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUST 55.50% 15.9 44.6 60,617
LANCASHIRE TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 55.70% 15.6 50.9 58,839
ROYAL SURREY COUNTY HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 55.90% 15.6 49.2 41,532
ISLE OF WIGHT NHS TRUST 56.20% 15 48.9 15,317
SURREY AND SUSSEX HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST 56.40% 15.7 42.2 51,510
BLACKPOOL TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 57.10% 14.9 42.6 36,628
THE ROYAL WOLVERHAMPTON NHS TRUST 57.20% 15.1 47.8 81,208
MID CHESHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 57.30% 14.7 48.9 39,384
DORSET COUNTY HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 57.40% 14.6 49.3 20,381
LONDON NORTH WEST UNIVERSITY HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST 57.50% 15.3 43.9 74,142
WALSALL HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST 57.60% 15 46.1 33,574
UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS PLYMOUTH NHS TRUST 57.90% 14.4 48.3 50,212
PORTSMOUTH HOSPITALS UNIVERSITY NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE TRUST 58.00% 14.7 44.2 56,207
THE DUDLEY GROUP NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 58.30% 14.7 45.5 49,264
EAST SUFFOLK AND NORTH ESSEX NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 58.60% 14.5 46.3 87,206
LEWISHAM AND GREENWICH NHS TRUST 58.80% 14.5 48.8 68,437
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 58.90% 14.2 48.6 61,492
IMPERIAL COLLEGE HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST 59.10% 14.6 43.2 102,014
WIRRAL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 59.30% 14 44.6 40,487
WYE VALLEY NHS TRUST 59.40% 14.3 49.4 22,265
COUNTY DURHAM AND DARLINGTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 59.80% 13.8 42.9 47,999
MEDWAY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 59.80% 14.3 40.4 37,853
SOUTHPORT AND ORMSKIRK HOSPITAL NHS TRUST 59.90% 13.5 39.8 19,787
CHESTERFIELD ROYAL HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 60.00% 14.2 45 25,294
BOLTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 60.10% 14.2 45.2 41,958
ROYAL FREE LONDON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 60.30% 14 43.9 97,508
NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST 60.60% 13.9 42.7 80,478
ROYAL CORNWALL HOSPITALS NHS TRUST 60.60% 13.6 48.7 48,203
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 60.70% 14.2 41 71,509
EAST LANCASHIRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST 60.90% 13.6 42.8 58,655
NORTH BRISTOL NHS TRUST 61.00% 13.5 48 49,899
CHELSEA AND WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 61.70% 13.6 42.4 58,097
SOMERSET NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 61.70% 13.6 43.3 54,283
WEST SUFFOLK NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 61.70% 13.3 45.2 33,822
MID YORKSHIRE TEACHING NHS TRUST 61.80% 12.9 43.3 55,814
ROYAL UNITED HOSPITALS BATH NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 61.80% 14 46.1 37,715
SALISBURY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 61.80% 14.1 45.3 28,342
OXFORD UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 61.90% 13.5 41.9 76,140
NORTH CUMBRIA INTEGRATED CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 62.50% 13.5 38 35,594
AIREDALE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 62.60% 12.6 45.5 15,034
KETTERING GENERAL HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 62.70% 13 39 28,246
BARKING, HAVERING AND REDBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST 63.10% 13.1 39.3 62,208
ST HELENS AND KNOWSLEY TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUST 63.20% 13 41.7 51,794
HULL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUST 63.30% 12.8 44.7 69,558
QUEEN VICTORIA HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 63.40% 13.6 38.5 17,100
NORTHERN LINCOLNSHIRE AND GOOLE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 63.90% 12.9 38.5 40,608
HARROGATE AND DISTRICT NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 64.00% 12.7 42.5 25,781
THE ROTHERHAM NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 64.10% 12.8 37.8 30,030
ASHFORD AND ST PETER’S HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 64.30% 12.6 39.2 58,570
LEEDS TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUST 64.40% 12.2 44.2 92,682
SOUTH TEES HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 64.50% 12.8 41.6 52,711
TAMESIDE AND GLOSSOP INTEGRATED CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 64.50% 12.7 39.3 21,968
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL SOUTHAMPTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 64.70% 12.5 41.8 58,604
NORTHAMPTON GENERAL HOSPITAL NHS TRUST 64.90% 13 41.9 40,382
SOUTH WARWICKSHIRE UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 64.90% 13 37.7 32,604
DONCASTER AND BASSETLAW TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 65.40% 12.4 38.5 52,266
THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, KING’S LYNN, NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 65.40% 12.4 38.3 22,158
GUY’S AND ST THOMAS’ NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 65.50% 12.4 39.1 100,782
SHERWOOD FOREST HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 66.00% 12.3 38.7 51,943
SHEFFIELD TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 66.50% 11.6 39.9 89,342
GEORGE ELIOT HOSPITAL NHS TRUST 66.70% 12.6 34.4 16,025
THE NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 67.00% 11.8 40.7 106,767
EPSOM AND ST HELIER UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST 68.00% 11.4 36.1 49,717
KINGSTON HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 68.00% 12.3 34.3 33,936
GLOUCESTERSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 68.10% 12.3 42.2 75,379
BRADFORD TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 68.20% 10.7 34.5 38,854
MAIDSTONE AND TUNBRIDGE WELLS NHS TRUST 68.60% 12.1 31 48,786
WHITTINGTON HEALTH NHS TRUST 68.60% 9.9 39.3 22,887
UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF MORECAMBE BAY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 68.70% 10.5 39.3 33,519
DARTFORD AND GRAVESHAM NHS TRUST 70.30% 10.8 34.3 25,499
ST GEORGE’S UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 70.30% 10.5 33.2 60,344
GATESHEAD HEALTH NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 70.70% 10.9 36.2 13,723
NORTH MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL NHS TRUST 70.90% 10.7 33.8 22,672
CALDERDALE AND HUDDERSFIELD NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 71.30% 10.4 32.3 31,487
KING’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 71.40% 10.8 34.8 87,528
BARNSLEY HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 72.30% 10.1 32.8 21,770
NORTH TEES AND HARTLEPOOL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 75.60% 9.2 30.4 21,007
CROYDON HEALTH SERVICES NHS TRUST 76.00% 10 32.6 34,684
SOUTH TYNESIDE AND SUNDERLAND NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 76.20% 9.2 30.5 58,312
HOMERTON HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 78.20% 8.7 28.7 29,109
NORTHUMBRIA HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 80.30% 9.6 30.7 32,543
ROYAL BERKSHIRE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 83.90% 6.5 23.1 25,748

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