Last reviewed 1 November 2026 · Page updated 1 November 2026
How to check where you are on an NHS waiting list
Hospitals do not usually give you a numbered place in the queue, because patients are seen in order of clinical urgency as well as time waited. In England, the NHS App (Appointments, then Waiting lists) shows hospital lists you are on and average waits, where your hospital shares data. Otherwise contact the hospital’s waiting list team or PALS.
Can I find out my exact position on the NHS waiting list?
Usually not. Hospitals book patients by clinical priority first, so someone referred after you with a more urgent problem may be seen first. What you can find out is whether you are on the list, roughly how long people are waiting for the same specialty at your hospital, and whether your referral has been triaged as urgent or routine.
How do I check my waiting list in the NHS App?
In the NHS App, go to Appointments, then Waiting lists. It shows the hospital waiting lists you are on and the average wait for that specialty at that hospital. It can take up to two weeks after referral for a new referral to appear, not every hospital shares this information, and the feature is for people aged 16 and over (NHS App help: view your waiting lists).
Who do I contact at the hospital about my wait?
| Who | What they can tell you |
|---|---|
| Hospital booking or waiting list team | Whether you are on the list, your referral date and whether an appointment is being arranged. The number is usually on your referral or appointment letter. |
| Your consultant’s secretary | Questions about your planned treatment once you have been seen. |
| PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) | Help if you cannot get an answer, or if you want to raise a concern. Every NHS trust has one. |
| Your GP or the referrer | Whether the referral was sent and marked urgent or routine, and what to do if your symptoms change. |
| NHS App / My Planned Care | Average waits by specialty at your hospital; not your personal position. |
What is My Planned Care and how accurate is it?
NHS England: My Planned Care is an NHS England website showing average waits by hospital and specialty. It is updated more often than the monthly statistics on this site. Averages describe other people’s waits; your own wait depends on your clinical priority and the type of care you need.
How long is the average NHS wait?
In August 2026, half of the 7.19 million pathways on the waiting list in England had waited 12.2 weeks or less (the median), and 65.2% had waited under 18 weeks. Waits differ a lot by specialty and hospital: see waits by specialty, compare trusts or find your town or trust.
What can I do if I have waited longer than 18 weeks?
In England you have a legal right to start consultant-led, non-urgent treatment within 18 weeks of referral, with some exceptions, and you can usually choose where you are referred for a first outpatient appointment. Each hospital has a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) that can help with questions about your wait. Your waiting time rights explained.
How do I check waits in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
Contact your health board (Scotland and Wales) or health and social care trust (Northern Ireland). Each nation has its own targets: see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Not medical advice. If your symptoms change or get worse while you wait, contact your GP or the team treating you. If it is not an emergency, NHS 111 online or calling 111 can tell you where to go, including urgent treatment centres, which often have shorter waits. Call 999 or go to A&E for life-threatening emergencies such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding or signs of a stroke.
Frequently asked questions
Can the hospital tell me my number in the queue?
Usually not, because patients are prioritised by clinical urgency as well as how long they have waited. The hospital can confirm you are on the list and give an idea of current waits.
Why is my referral not showing in the NHS App?
It can take up to two weeks after referral to appear, and not every hospital shares waiting list information with the NHS App. Contact the hospital booking team if you are unsure.
Will calling the hospital move me up the list?
No. Lists are ordered by clinical need and time waited. If your symptoms change or get worse, tell your GP or the hospital team, because that may change your clinical priority.
What is PALS?
The Patient Advice and Liaison Service. Every NHS trust in England has one. It gives confidential advice and help with concerns about NHS care, including waits.
What else might help?
- How long does an NHS referral take?: The 18-week clock, what happens after a GP referral, and waits by specialty.
- Urgent and fast-track scan waiting times: Urgent and routine scans, the 28-day cancer standard, and getting results.
- Your rights on NHS waiting times: 18 weeks, choosing your hospital, PALS and the rules in each UK nation.
- Private or NHS scan: what you need to know: NHS scan waits, how private scans work and moving back to NHS care.
- Compare NHS trusts on waiting lists, scans, cancer and A&E
Who wrote this page and where do the figures come from?
Written and maintained by the Waiting Times UK editorial team at Oaknest Media Ltd, an independent publisher that is not part of the NHS. Every figure is taken from an official publication, shown with its date, and linked below; where we add up or compare figures ourselves we say so. This page has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not medical advice. Text last checked by the editorial team on 1 November 2026; page last updated 1 November 2026.
- NHS App help: view your waiting lists
- NHS England: My Planned Care
- NHS: Guide to NHS waiting times in England
- NHS: What is PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service)?
- NHS England: Referral to treatment waiting times (August 2026)
Official statistics are reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0. See data sources and methods and about Waiting Times UK.
Spotted a figure that looks wrong or out of date? Report a figure and we will check it against the original source.