GeraClinic / NHS waiting times / By region / North West
NHS Waiting Times in North West
In April 2026, 968,973 patients in the North West Commissioning Region were waiting to start NHS treatment, with a regional median wait of 12.1 weeks and 64.4% seen within 18 weeks (official NHS England RTT data).
How long is the NHS waiting list in North West?
As of April 2026, 968,973 patients in the North West Commissioning Region were waiting to start NHS treatment, with 64.4% seen within 18 weeks and a median wait of 12.1 weeks. Source: NHS England RTT (Commissioner), April 2026. Gera re-dates this monthly.
Estimate your wait in this region
Pick a specialty to see its real median wait here vs the England average
Choose your NHS region and a specialty to see the real April 2026 median wait, how it compares to the England average, and your region's Gera Care-Access Index.
National median across all specialties (England): 11.9 weeks.
North West waiting times by specialty (April 2026)
| Specialty | Patients waiting | Within 18 weeks | Median wait | Over 52 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All specialties (North West) | 968,973 | 64.4% | 12.1 weeks | 12,663 |
| Trauma and Orthopaedic Service | 113,079 | 61.2% | 13.0 weeks | 1,849 |
| Gynaecology Service | 84,955 | 58.1% | 14.1 weeks | 2,065 |
| Other - Medical Services | 82,640 | 69.5% | 10.7 weeks | 207 |
| Ear Nose and Throat Service | 79,337 | 62.9% | 12.6 weeks | 1,168 |
| Ophthalmology Service | 76,165 | 72.2% | 9.7 weeks | 562 |
| Other - Surgical Services | 68,574 | 66.0% | 11.7 weeks | 948 |
| Gastroenterology Service | 67,781 | 66.4% | 11.9 weeks | 795 |
| Cardiology Service | 50,833 | 66.6% | 11.8 weeks | 432 |
| Urology Service | 50,505 | 65.9% | 12.0 weeks | 594 |
| Dermatology Service | 49,911 | 61.1% | 12.6 weeks | 590 |
| General Surgery Service | 48,545 | 61.0% | 13.3 weeks | 884 |
| Oral Surgery Service | 45,866 | 53.6% | 15.8 weeks | 910 |
| Other - Paediatric Services | 43,831 | 65.3% | 11.6 weeks | 258 |
| Other - Other Services | 24,303 | 75.7% | 8.7 weeks | 220 |
| Respiratory Medicine Service | 21,660 | 77.5% | 8.9 weeks | 144 |
| Plastic Surgery Service | 19,481 | 53.6% | 15.5 weeks | 458 |
| Neurology Service | 15,253 | 56.0% | 15.1 weeks | 324 |
| Rheumatology Service | 15,164 | 67.3% | 11.3 weeks | 122 |
| Elderly Medicine Service | 4,422 | 74.3% | 9.0 weeks | 8 |
| General Internal Medicine Service | 3,347 | 71.1% | 10.4 weeks | 13 |
| Cardiothoracic Surgery Service | 2,597 | 61.3% | 12.6 weeks | 101 |
| Neurosurgical Service | 695 | 77.0% | 10.3 weeks | 11 |
| Other - Mental Health Services | 29 | 82.8% | 7.5 weeks | 0 |
The longest median wait in North West is for Oral Surgery Service at 15.8 weeks. Figures are official NHS England RTT statistics (commissioner basis), April 2026.
Don't want to wait?
The median NHS wait in North West is 12.1 weeks. A private GeraClinic consultation can usually happen within days β and you keep your NHS place.
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the NHS waiting list in North West (North West Commissioning Region)?
- In April 2026, 968,973 patients were waiting to start NHS treatment on an incomplete (open) referral-to-treatment pathway in the North West Commissioning Region. The regional median wait was 12.1 weeks, and 64.4% of patients had been waiting 18 weeks or less. Figures are official NHS England RTT statistics (commissioner basis), as of April 2026.
- What percentage of patients in North West are seen within 18 weeks?
- 64.4% of the 968,973 patients waiting in the North West Commissioning Region had been waiting 18 weeks or less as of April 2026. That leaves 345,172 patients waiting longer than the NHS 18-week standard. The NHS Constitution target is for 92% of patients to wait no more than 18 weeks.
- Which specialty has the longest NHS wait in North West?
- In North West, Oral Surgery Service had the longest median wait as of April 2026, at 15.8 weeks, with 45,866 patients waiting and 53.6% seen within 18 weeks. Surgical and orthopaedic specialties typically have the longest regional waits.
- How many patients in North West wait more than a year on the NHS?
- 12,663 patients in the North West Commissioning Region were waiting more than 52 weeks (over a year) to start NHS treatment as of April 2026. Eliminating these longest waits is a core NHS England recovery metric.
- What is the Gera Care-Access Index for North West?
- The Gera Care-Access Index (GCAI) for the North West Commissioning Region is 53 / 100 as of April 2026 (higher = worse access). It is computed transparently from the real NHS figures as (1 β 64.4% within 18 weeks) Γ 968,973 patients waiting, then minβmax normalized across the seven NHS England regions. The Midlands region currently has the worst access.
- Can I avoid the NHS waiting list in North West?
- Many patients shorten the wait by arranging a private consultation. A private specialist can usually see you within days rather than the 12.1 weeks regional median NHS wait, and you keep your NHS place while you do. GeraClinic connects you with consultant-level doctors for an online consultation.
Compare other NHS regions
- All NHS regions ranked by access β the regional Gera Care-Access Index league table.
- NHS waiting times by specialty (national) β England-wide figures for every specialty.
- CQC-registered care providers by region β provider quality near you.
Waiting in North West? Find rated providers in your region
With a median NHS wait of 12.1 weeks in North West, it can help to see who is available near you. Browse CQC-registered care providers and GP practices covering your region β official Care Quality Commission records.
- CQC-registered care providers in North West β 865 registered locations
- GP practices by CQC rating in North West β 952 rated GP practices
Provider counts are exact figures from official Care Quality Commission records. Open Government Licence v3.0.
Longest-living areas in North West
Waiting times are one side of health; life expectancy is the other. TheseNorth West local authorities have the highest life expectancy at birth (ONS).
Methodology β Gera Care-Access Index
Every figure on this page is taken directly from the per-region, per-treatment-function summary columns of NHS England's official βIncomplete Commissionerβ RTT data file for April 2026(region sheet): total incomplete pathways, total within 18 weeks, % within 18 weeks, median (average) waiting time, and total 52+ weeks. No estimates or survey data are mixed in.
The Gera Care-Access Index (GCAI) is computed transparently: for each region we take the access-deficit numerator (1 β % within 18 weeks) Γ total patients waiting, then minβmax normalize across the 7 NHS England regions to a 0β100 scale (higher = worse access). North West's raw numerator is 344,954, giving a GCAI of 53 / 100 (April 2026). The index re-computes on the real NHS cadence (monthly).
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.