NHS Waiting Time Calculator
Calculate how long you have been waiting for NHS treatment and check if you are within the official UK waiting time targets for routine, cancer, and mental health care.
Referral & Treatment Details
Enter your referral date and treatment type to calculate your wait time
The date the hospital received your referral.
The date you are calculating the wait up to.
Select the category of treatment you are waiting for.
Waiting Time Calculation
Check your status against NHS official targets
Enter your referral date and treatment type above, then click Calculate Wait Time to see your status.
Official NHS Waiting Targets
The NHS has strict targets for how long patients should wait for treatment. Here are the maximum waiting times for the most common referral pathways in the UK.
| Treatment Type | NHS Target | Maximum Wait |
|---|---|---|
| Routine Consultant-Led | 18 Weeks | 126 Days |
| Urgent Suspected Cancer | 2 Weeks | 14 Days |
| Mental Health Routine | Standard | 65 Days |
| Diagnostic Tests | 6 Weeks | 42 Days |
NHS Waiting Times FAQ
Everything you need to know about NHS waiting targets, your rights as a patient, and how referral times are calculated.
The NHS 18-week waiting time target ensures that patients should wait no longer than 18 weeks (126 days) from the date of their first referral to the start of consultant-led treatment. This applies to routine, non-urgent conditions.
For urgent suspected cancer referrals, the NHS target is a maximum wait of 2 weeks (14 days) from the date of referral to your first appointment with a specialist. This ensures rapid assessment and diagnosis for potentially life-threatening conditions.
If your wait exceeds the NHS target, you have the right to contact your local Integrated Care Board (ICB) or patient advice and liaison service (PALS). They can help facilitate your treatment, potentially offering you the option to be treated at an alternative hospital or independent provider to reduce your wait.
The waiting time is calculated from the date the hospital or service receives your referral (Referral to Treatment or RTT start date) until the date your treatment begins or you are contacted to confirm your first appointment. Certain pauses, such as if you decline an offer of treatment, may stop the clock.
The NHS has a target that 75% of patients referred to specialist mental health services should begin treatment within 18 weeks. Additionally, there is a stricter standard that patients experiencing early intervention in psychosis should begin treatment within 2 weeks, and routine mental health treatment should begin within 65 days.