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: 19/09/24 Referral Waits
Current Terminology  Urgent Routine
Cardiology (heart conditions) 40 - 45 weeks 40 - 45 weeks 
Cardiology technicians (heart tests) 30 - 35 weeks 40 - 45 weeks 
Diabetic medicine 15 - 20 weeks 20 - 25 weeks
Endocrinology (hormones) 15 - 20 weeks 30 - 35 weeks
Gastroenterology (digestive system) 15 - 20 weeks 20 - 25 weeks
Geriatric medicine (older persons) 0 weeks 5 - 10 weeks 
Hepatology (liver) 20 - 25 weeks 30 - 35 weeks
Nephrology (kidneys) 5 - 10 weeks 40 - 45 weeks
Neurology (brain/spinal cord) 20 - 25 weeks 30 - 35 weeks
Respiratory medicine (chest and lungs) 20 - 25 weeks 30 - 35 weeks
Rheumatology (immune disorders) 5 - 10 weeks 5 - 10 weeks
Sleep studies 20 - 25 weeks 20 - 25 weeks
Clinical immunology and allergy 20 - 25 weeks 20 - 25 weeks
Chemical pathology (monitoring of bodily fluids)   30 - 35 weeks 
Audiological medicine (hearing and balance) 5 - 10 weeks 30 - 35 weeks
Audiology (hearing tests) 5 - 10 weeks 5 - 10 weeks
Breast surgery 0 weeks 10 - 15 weeks
Ear, nose and throat 10 - 15 weeks 40 - 45 weeks
General surgery (hernias/lumps and bumps) 10 - 15 weeks 15 - 20 weeks 
Gynaecological oncology 0 - 5 weeks 0 - 5 weeks
Maxillo-facial surgery (jaw/mouth/face surgery) 5 - 10 weeks 40 - 45 weeks 
Medical ophthalmology (treatment of eye disorders) 1 - 5 weeks 15 - 20 weeks
Ophthalmology (eye disorder treatment and surgery) 20 - 25 weeks 30 - 35 weeks 
Optometry   20 - 25 weeks
Orthodontics (straightening of teeth) 1 - 5 weeks 1 - 5 weeks
Orthoptics (diagnosis of defects in eye movement) 10 - 15 weeks 20 - 25 weeks 
Pain management 20 - 25 weeks 30 - 35 weeks
Plastic surgery 10 - 15 weeks 15 - 20 weeks 
Trauma and orthopaedics 10 - 15 weeks  30 - 35 weeks
Urology (kidneys, ureters, bladders and prostate disorders) 10 - 15 weeks  30 - 35 weeks 
Gynaecology  15 - 20 weeks 15 - 20 weeks
Paediatrics (not covered in the list below) 5 - 10 weeks 10 - 15 weeks
Paediatrics - dermatology 5 - 10 weeks 30 - 35 weeks 
Paediatrics - cardiology (children's heart conditions) 5 - 10 weeks 30 - 35 weeks 
Paediatrics - clinical immunology and allergy 5 - 10 weeks 20 - 25 weeks
Paediatrics - endocrinology (childrens' hormone conditions) 10 - 15 weeks 15 - 20 weeks
Paediatric - epilepsy  1 - 5 weeks 1 - 5 weeks
Paediatrics - gastroenterology (childrens' digestive systems) 10 - 15 weeks  15 - 20 weeks
Paediatrics - nephrology (childrens' kidney conditions) 1 - 5 weeks 15 - 20 weeks
Paediatrics - child development 1 - 5 weeks 20 - 25 weeks
Paediatrics - rheumatology (childrens' immune disorders) 10 - 15 weeks 15 - 20 weeks
Paediatrics - surgery (childrens' hernias, lumps and bumps) 20 - 25 weeks 30 - 35 weeks
Paediatrics - Urology 20 - 25 weeks 20 - 25 weeks
Paediatrics - diabetic medicine 10 - 15 weeks 10 - 15 weeks

 

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.