GeraClinic / NHS waiting times / Best regions / Cardiothoracic Surgery Service
Best NHS Regions for Cardiothoracic Surgery Service
In April 2026, South East has the shortest NHS wait for Cardiothoracic Surgery Service β median 7.1 weeks. All 7 NHS England regions ranked below by Gera Regional Treatment Rank (GRTR). Nationally, 9,122 patients are waiting.
Which NHS region has the shortest wait for Cardiothoracic Surgery Service in England?
As of April 2026, the South East Commissioning Region has the shortest NHS waiting time for Cardiothoracic Surgery Service with a median of 7.1 weeks and 81.2% seen within 18 weeks (Gera GRTR rank 1 of 7 regions). Source: NHS England RTT Commissioner, April 2026.
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Shortest wait for Cardiothoracic Surgery Service
South East β median 7.1 weeks, 81.2% within 18 weeks (367 waiting)
| Rank | NHS Region | Median wait | Within 18 wks | Waiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | South East | 7.1 weeks | 81.2% | 367 |
| 2nd | London | 7.8 weeks | 83.5% | 643 |
| 3rd | Midlands | 7.9 weeks | 85.4% | 1,151 |
| 4th | East of England | 9.8 weeks | 71.3% | 541 |
| 5th | North East and Yorkshire | 10.4 weeks | 72.3% | 350 |
| 6th | North West | 12.6 weeks | 61.3% | 2,597 |
| 7th | South West | 13.7 weeks | 62.1% | 733 |
The regional spread for Cardiothoracic Surgery Service is 6.6 weeks β the difference in median wait between South East (best) and South West (longest), April 2026. This is the gap a patient could potentially close by discussing referral options with their GP.
Even in the best region (South East), only 81.2% of Cardiothoracic Surgery Service patients are seen within 18 weeks β below the NHS 92% standard. A GeraClinic private consultation can usually happen within days.
Book a private consultationGera Regional Treatment Rank (GRTR) β rank 1 = shortest median wait. Source: NHS England RTT Incomplete Commissioner data, April 2026. OGL v3.0. Methodology.
Cardiothoracic Surgery Service: all NHS regions ranked by wait (April 2026)
| GRTR rank | NHS Region | Patients waiting | Within 18 weeks | Median wait | Over 52 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | South East | 367 | 81.2% | 7.1 weeks | 1 |
| 2nd | London | 643 | 83.5% | 7.8 weeks | 0 |
| 3rd | Midlands | 1,151 | 85.4% | 7.9 weeks | 5 |
| 4th | East of England | 541 | 71.3% | 9.8 weeks | 0 |
| 5th | North East and Yorkshire | 350 | 72.3% | 10.4 weeks | 3 |
| 6th | North West | 2,597 | 61.3% | 12.6 weeks | 101 |
| 7th | South West | 733 | 62.1% | 13.7 weeks | 14 |
| National | England (all regions) | 9,122 | 72.0% | 9.9 weeks | 139 |
Regional spread: 6.6 weeks difference between South East (7.1 weeks, best) and South West (13.7 weeks, longest) for Cardiothoracic Surgery Service, April 2026. GRTR rank 1 = shortest median wait. Figures: NHS England RTT Commissioner basis.
Don't want to wait for Cardiothoracic Surgery Service?
The national median NHS wait for Cardiothoracic Surgery Service is 9.9 weeks. A private GeraClinic consultation can usually happen within days β and you keep your NHS place.
Frequently asked questions
- Which NHS region has the shortest waiting time for Cardiothoracic Surgery Service in England?
- As of April 2026, the South East Commissioning Region has the shortest NHS waiting time for Cardiothoracic Surgery Service at a median of 7.1 weeks, with 81.2% of patients seen within 18 weeks (Gera Regional Treatment Rank 1 of 7). Source: NHS England RTT, April 2026.
- Which NHS region has the longest waiting time for Cardiothoracic Surgery Service?
- As of April 2026, the South West Commissioning Region has the longest NHS waiting time for Cardiothoracic Surgery Service at a median of 13.7 weeks β 6.6 weeks longer than the best-performing region (South East). 62.1% of patients in that region are seen within 18 weeks. Source: NHS England RTT, April 2026.
- How many patients are waiting for Cardiothoracic Surgery Service across England?
- Nationally, 9,122 patients in England were waiting to start Cardiothoracic Surgery Service treatment as of April 2026. The overall national median wait was 9.9 weeks, and 72.0% were seen within 18 weeks. 139 patients had been waiting more than 52 weeks. Source: NHS England RTT (national), April 2026.
- What is the Gera Regional Treatment Rank (GRTR) for Cardiothoracic Surgery Service?
- The Gera Regional Treatment Rank (GRTR) ranks each of the 7 NHS England commissioning regions for a given specialty by median waiting time in ascending order: rank 1 = shortest wait (best access), rank 7 = longest wait. For Cardiothoracic Surgery Service as of April 2026, South East holds rank 1 (median 7.1 weeks) and South West holds the last position (median 13.7 weeks). The GRTR is computed from official NHS England RTT Incomplete Commissioner data, refreshed monthly. Methodology: geraclinic.com/nhs-waiting-times/best-regions/methodology.
- Can I avoid the NHS Cardiothoracic Surgery Service waiting list by seeing a private doctor?
- Many patients choose a private consultation to shorten the wait. A private specialist can usually see you within days rather than the 9.9 weeks national median NHS wait for Cardiothoracic Surgery Service. They can arrange investigations, provide a second opinion, or make an onward referral β and you keep your NHS place. GeraClinic connects you with consultant-level doctors for an online consultation.
Best NHS regions for other specialties
Methodology β Gera Regional Treatment Rank (GRTR)
The Gera Regional Treatment Rank (GRTR) ranks each of the 7 NHS England commissioning regions for a given specialty (treatment function) by median waiting time in ascending order: rank 1 = shortest median wait (best access). Ranks are derived exclusively from the official NHS England βIncomplete Commissionerβ RTT data file for April 2026 (Commissioner basis, regional sheet). Median waiting time is the band where the cumulative distribution of patients crosses 50% (linear-interpolated by NHS England in the source file). Regions for which the NHS file reports no median are excluded from the ranked set. Full methodology β
Contains public sector information published by NHS England and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS England β Consultant-led Referral to Treatment (RTT) Waiting Times (April 2026, published June 2026). Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. This directory is not affiliated with NHS England.
Editorial data review: figures on this page are drawn directly from the official public source cited here and were cross-checked against that source at publication; derived values (percentages, medians, index scores) are computed from those published figures using the stated methodology β nothing is estimated or invented. Last reviewed: 2 July 2026. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Informational/educational only β not a substitute for professional medical advice; a clinician interprets results.