Waiting times for appointments

We are experiencing a significant backlog in appointments for some of our services following our response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Please be assured that we are doing everything in our power to work through our lists to give you the help that you need. We are making good progress and have significantly reduced the number of patients classed as long waiters. 

You can take a look at the current waiting times for our services below:

 
Last updated: 12/03/25 Referral Waits
Current Terminology  Urgent Routine
Cardiology (heart conditions) 15-20 wks 55-60 wks
Cardiology technicians (heart tests) 20-25wks 40-45wks
Diabetic medicine 8-10 wks 10-15 wks
Endocrinology (hormones) 8-10 wks 15-20 wks
Gastroenterology (digestive system) 20-25 wks 45-50 wks
Geriatric medicine (older persons) 0wks 5-10wks
Hepatology (liver) 20-25wks 45-50 wks
Nephrology (kidneys) 5-10wks 15-20 wks
Neurology (brain/spinal cord) 12-15 wks 60 wks
Respiratory medicine (chest and lungs) 15-20 wks 45-50 wks
Rheumatology (immune disorders) 4-8 wks 10-15 wks
Sleep studies 5-10 wks 20-25wks
Clinical immunology and allergy 10-15 wks 40-45 wks
Chemical pathology (monitoring of bodily fluids)   20-28wks
Audiological medicine (hearing and balance) 5-10wks 40-45wks
Audiology (hearing tests) 0wks 5-10wks
Breast surgery 2-4 wks 2-4 wks
Ear, nose and throat 4-6 wks 35-40 wks
General surgery (hernias/lumps and bumps) 6-8 wks 20-25 wks
Gynaecological oncology 0-5wks 0-5wks
Maxillo-facial surgery (jaw/mouth/face surgery) 6-8 wks 50-55 wks
Medical ophthalmology (treatment of eye disorders) 8-10 wks 25-30 wks
Ophthalmology (eye disorder treatment and surgery) 8-10 wks 25-30 wks
Optometry   20-25wks
Orthodontics (straightening of teeth) 10-15wks 10-15wks
Orthoptics (diagnosis of defects in eye movement) 10-15wks 20-25wks
Pain management 25-30 wks 25-30 wks
Plastic surgery 2-4 wks 8-10 wks
Trauma and orthopaedics 10-15wks 60-65 wks
Urology (kidneys, ureters, bladders and prostate disorders) 8-12 wks 20-25 wks
Gynaecology  2-4 wks 20-25 wks
Paediatrics (not covered in the list below) 2-4 wks 8-10 wks
Paediatrics - dermatology 4-8 wks 30-35 wks
Paediatrics - cardiology (children's heart conditions) 8-10 wks 30-35wks
Paediatrics - clinical immunology and allergy 4-8 wks 35-40 wks
Paediatrics - endocrinology (childrens' hormone conditions) 2-4 wks 2-4 wks
Paediatric - epilepsy  2-4 wks 2-4 wks
Paediatrics - gastroenterology (childrens' digestive systems) 8-12 wks 20-25 wks
Paediatrics - nephrology (childrens' kidney conditions) 4-8 wks 20-25 wks
Paediatrics - child development 2-4 wks 25-30 wks
Paediatrics - rheumatology (childrens' immune disorders) 8-12 wks 20-25 wks
Paediatrics - surgery (childrens' hernias, lumps and bumps) 5-10 wks 25-30 wks
Paediatrics - trauma and Orthopaedics 2-4 wks 2-4 wks
Paediatrics - urology 8-12 wks 20-25 wks
Paediatrics - diabetic medicine 4-8 wks 4-8 wks

 

Unless there has been a change in your symptoms, please do not contact your GP for an update on waiting times, or to ask them to speed up the process.

If you have any concerns or questions please use the contact details on your hospital letter, or if you do not have a letter with these contact details, our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can answer your queries. However, please note that the team cannot access this information about appointment waiting times directly, limiting the speed of their response.

We are working as hard as we can to serve our community and will be in touch with you as soon as we can.

Thank you for your understanding.