Wales emergency departments data for September 2026, published 22 October 2026 · Wales diagnostics data for August 2026, published 22 October 2026 · Page updated 1 November 2026
NHS waiting times in Wales
In September 2026, 63.9% of emergency department attendances in Wales were within four hours (target 95%) and 88.2% within 12 hours. In August 2026, 26.8% of MRI waits were over eight weeks (target: none). Wales sets targets, not individual legal rights.
What are the waiting time targets in Wales?
| Measure | Target |
|---|---|
| Referral to treatment | 95% within 26 weeks; no one waiting more than 36 weeks |
| Diagnostic tests | No one waiting more than 8 weeks |
| Emergency departments | 95% within 4 hours; no one waiting 12 hours or more |
How long are emergency department waits in each Welsh health board?
| Health board | Attendances | Within 4 hours | Within 12 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | 17,271 | 69.5% | 90.4% |
| Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | 21,489 | 57.4% | 82.5% |
| Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | 12,369 | 59.3% | 91.1% |
| Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board | 17,588 | 58.7% | 87.0% |
| Hywel Dda University Health Board | 16,231 | 66.8% | 89.8% |
| Powys Teaching Health Board | 1,614 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Swansea Bay University Health Board | 12,158 | 71.3% | 90.5% |
| Wales | 98,720 | 63.9% | 88.2% |
How long are scan and test waits in Wales?
| Health board | MRI over 8 wks | CT over 8 wks | Ultrasound over 8 wks | Endoscopy over 8 wks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | 16.3% | 13.5% | 23.8% | 6.8% |
| Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | 9.7% | 7.2% | 31.2% | 54.4% |
| Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | 42.1% | 41.8% | 44.5% | 63.5% |
| Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board | 9.0% | 1.2% | 37.4% | 3.4% |
| Hywel Dda University Health Board | 45.5% | 1.4% | 51.0% | 5.4% |
| Powys Teaching Health Board | – | – | 0.0% | 6.7% |
| Swansea Bay University Health Board | 6.6% | 29.6% | 36.2% | 49.6% |
| Wales | 26.8% | 21.7% | 36.8% | 40.5% |
Figures for each UK nation use their own definitions and standards, so they are not directly comparable with England.
Which towns have their own waiting time pages?
Bangor · Cardiff · Flint · Newport · Pontypridd · Swansea
More: waiting time rights in each nation, all regions.
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
Why does Wales report diagnostic waits over 8 weeks?
The Welsh target is that no one waits more than 8 weeks for a diagnostic test, so StatsWales reports against 8 weeks rather than the 6 weeks used in England and Scotland.
Is there an 18-week right in Wales?
No. Wales uses targets of 95% starting treatment within 26 weeks and no one waiting over 36 weeks.
Who do I contact about my wait in Wales?
Your health board’s patient advice or waiting list team.
How should I cite these figures?
Waiting Times UK, “NHS waiting times in Wales”, official statistics as dated above, https://waitingtimesuk.co.uk/regions/wales (accessed [date]). Where possible, cite the official publisher too.
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. Page last updated 1 November 2026, from the data files named below. Figures change when the publisher releases new data.
- Welsh Government (StatsWales): NHS performance and waiting times (emergency departments September 2026, diagnostics August 2026, published 22 October 2026)
- Welsh Government: NHS Wales performance framework
- Welsh Government: NHS activity and performance summary
Official statistics are reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0. See data sources and methods and about Waiting Times UK.
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