Question 1

Where does the waiting time data come from?

Accepted Answer

All waiting time figures on ShorterWait are sourced directly from NHS England's Referral to Treatment (RTT) statistics, which are published monthly under the Open Government Licence v3.0. We do not generate, estimate, or adjust any figures. We display the data as published by NHS England.

Question 2

How often is the data updated?

Accepted Answer

We refresh our database weekly. NHS England publishes updated RTT statistics monthly, so figures reflect the most recent publication available. The date of the most recent data refresh is shown on the search results page.

Question 3

What is the difference between a treatment wait and an outpatient wait?

Accepted Answer

An outpatient wait is the time from your GP referral to your first appointment with a specialist consultant. A treatment wait is the time from your GP referral to the start of your actual treatment, such as surgery or a procedure. When you are trying to shorten the time to an operation or procedure, the treatment wait is the figure that matters most.

Question 4

What does the '8 in 10 patients wait' figure mean?

Accepted Answer

This is the 80th percentile waiting time. It means that 80 percent of patients treated at that hospital waited this number of weeks or fewer. It gives a better sense of the realistic wait for most patients than the average figure alone, which can be affected by a small number of very long waits.

Question 5

The wait time shown seems very different to what my GP told me. Why?

Accepted Answer

NHS RTT statistics are aggregated across all patients on a waiting list at a given point in time. Your individual wait depends on when you were referred, your clinical priority, and other factors. The figures on ShorterWait represent the published average and 80th percentile waits for all patients at that hospital in the most recent reporting period. They are a guide for comparison, not a guarantee of how long you personally will wait.

Question 6

Why is my hospital not listed?

Accepted Answer

Not every NHS provider publishes RTT data for every specialty. Providers with fewer than a certain number of patients in a specialty may not appear in the published statistics. If your hospital is not listed, it may not have submitted data for that specialty in the most recent reporting period.

Question 7

I think the data shown for a hospital is wrong. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

Please contact us at tosin@op-health.co and include the hospital name, specialty, and the figure you believe to be incorrect. We will check against the source data from NHS England and update our records if there is a discrepancy.

Question 8

Do I really have the legal right to choose my hospital?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The right to choose your hospital for a first outpatient appointment is established in law under the Health Act 2009 and is set out in the NHS Constitution (Right 6a) and the NHS Choice Framework. Your GP is required to offer you a choice of at least five providers when referring you for a first outpatient appointment in most specialties.

Question 9

What is the NHS e-Referral Service?

Accepted Answer

The NHS e-Referral Service (NHS e-RS, formerly known as Choose and Book) is the online platform used to manage outpatient referrals. It shows available providers and appointment slots. When your GP refers you through e-RS, you can view and select your provider and appointment online. You can access it at nhs.uk/service-search.

Question 10

Can I choose a hospital in a different region or far from home?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The NHS Choice Framework allows you to choose any NHS or commissioned independent sector provider in England, regardless of where you live or which region you are in. There is no requirement to choose a hospital in your local area or within your Integrated Care Board boundary.

Question 11

Does patient choice apply if my GP has already sent a referral?

Accepted Answer

In many cases, yes. If your referral has been sent but you have not yet been given a confirmed appointment at the original hospital, you may be able to ask your GP to redirect it to a different provider. Contact your GP surgery as soon as possible. Redirection is more straightforward before an appointment date has been allocated.

Question 12

Can I choose an independent (private) sector hospital?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if that hospital is commissioned by the NHS to treat NHS patients. Many private hospitals are commissioned under the Independent Sector Treatment Centre programme and appear on NHS e-RS alongside NHS trusts. You pay nothing for your care at a commissioned independent sector provider. Ask your GP or check e-RS to see which independent providers are available for your specialty.

Question 13

My GP says I do not have the right to choose. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

GPs have a professional obligation to offer patient choice under NHS England guidance. If yours declines, ask to speak to the practice manager and explain that you are exercising your right under the NHS Choice Framework. If the issue is not resolved, you can contact NHS England on 0300 311 22 33, your local Integrated Care Board, or raise a formal complaint with the practice. Keep a written record of any conversations, including dates.

Question 14

Does patient choice apply to children?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The NHS Choice Framework applies to children as well as adults. A parent or guardian can exercise patient choice rights on behalf of a child when arranging a first outpatient referral.

Question 15

What is the 18-week NHS waiting time standard?

Accepted Answer

The NHS Constitution states that patients should not wait longer than 18 weeks from the date of their GP referral to the start of treatment. This is a constitutional right, not just a target. In many specialties, waits are currently running above this standard. Patient choice allows you to look for a provider that is closer to meeting the 18-week standard.

Question 16

Is ShorterWait free to use?

Accepted Answer

The core search tool is completely free. Enter your postcode and specialty to see all hospitals ranked by waiting time and distance. No sign-up is required to search. The Switch Pack, which includes the GP letter template, patient rights guide, and conversation script, is a paid product at £15 as a one-time purchase.

Question 17

Do I need to create an account?

Accepted Answer

No. You can search hospitals and view waiting times without creating an account. An account is only needed if you want to set up weekly wait-time email alerts for a specific specialty and region.

Question 18

How do I find hospitals near me?

Accepted Answer

Enter your full postcode and your specialty on the homepage. ShorterWait will show you all hospitals with published RTT data for that specialty, ranked by distance from your postcode and by waiting time. You can filter and sort the results to find the best combination of distance and wait for your situation.

Question 19

Is ShorterWait medical advice?

Accepted Answer

No. ShorterWait is a data navigation tool that displays NHS England waiting time statistics and explains your legal patient choice rights. Nothing on this site constitutes medical advice, a clinical recommendation, or a doctor-patient relationship. Always consult your own GP or specialist before making decisions about your care.

Question 20

Who runs ShorterWait?

Accepted Answer

ShorterWait is built and run by Dr Oluwatosin Taiwo, an NHS GP Partner, through Olympus Premium Health Limited (Company No. 13621708, registered in England and Wales). You can read more on our About page.

Question 21

What is included in the Switch Pack?

Accepted Answer

The Switch Pack contains four documents: a GP re-referral letter template citing the NHS Constitution, Health Act 2009, and NHS e-Referral Service guidance; a plain-English patient rights guide; a word-for-word conversation script covering the most common GP objections; and a six-step switching guide covering the full process from finding a hospital to receiving your new appointment letter. It also includes 90 days of weekly wait-time email alerts for your chosen specialty and region.

Question 22

How do I access my documents after purchase?

Accepted Answer

Your Switch Pack documents are available immediately after payment on the confirmation page. You can print them directly from your browser or save them as a PDF using your browser's print function. There is no separate download file. If you have difficulty accessing the page after purchase, please contact us at tosin@op-health.co with your Stripe order confirmation and we will assist you.

Question 23

Can I use the Switch Pack for a family member?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A single Switch Pack purchase covers one referral and can be used on behalf of a family member or dependent. The letter template includes fields for the patient's name and NHS number, so it can be personalised for anyone.

Question 24

Is the letter template legally binding?

Accepted Answer

The letter template is a written request from a patient to their GP, citing the statutory basis for patient choice. It is not a legal document in the formal sense, but it sets out your rights clearly and references the legislation and NHS guidance that your GP is obliged to follow. It is designed to be professional and straightforward, not confrontational.

Question 25

Is there a refund policy?

Accepted Answer

Because the Switch Pack documents are made available immediately on purchase, we are generally unable to offer refunds once the content has been accessed. If you have a problem with your purchase, please contact us at tosin@op-health.co and we will do our best to help.

Question 26

The letter mentions specific legislation. Is this current?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The letter template cites the NHS Constitution (Right 6a), the Health Act 2009 (section 75), the NHS Choice Framework 2016, and NHS England guidance on the e-Referral Service. These remain the current legal and policy basis for patient choice rights in England as of the date of publication. We review the template periodically to ensure it remains accurate.

Question 27

What are wait-time alerts?

Accepted Answer

Wait-time alerts are weekly email digests that tell you the current average and shortest waiting times for a specific specialty and region. They are sent every Monday morning and include the shortest wait available, the hospital offering that wait, and a link to search for hospitals near you.

Question 28

How do I set up an alert?

Accepted Answer

Create a free account, go to My Alerts, and select a specialty and region. You can set up multiple alerts for different specialties or regions. Alerts are active immediately and you will receive your first email the following Monday.

Question 29

How do I pause or cancel an alert?

Accepted Answer

You can toggle any alert on or off from your My Alerts page when you are logged in. You can also cancel by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any alert email. Alerts automatically expire 90 days after creation to keep your inbox tidy.

Question 30

Why have I stopped receiving alerts?

Accepted Answer

Alerts expire automatically after 90 days. To resume receiving alerts, log in and create a new alert for the same specialty and region. If your alerts stopped before 90 days, please check your spam folder or contact us at tosin@op-health.co.

Question 31

What personal data does ShorterWait collect?

Accepted Answer

If you create an account, we store your email address and alert preferences. We do not collect your NHS number, medical history, or clinical information. If you purchase the Switch Pack, your payment is processed by Stripe. We do not store card details. Full details are in our Privacy Policy.

Question 32

How do I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

Email tosin@op-health.co with a request to delete your account and all associated data. We will confirm deletion within 30 days in line with UK GDPR Article 17.

Question 33

Is ShorterWait registered with the ICO?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Olympus Premium Health Limited is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office under registration number ZC143531.

How can we help?

Understanding the waiting time data

Your NHS patient choice rights

Using ShorterWait

The Switch Pack

Wait-time alerts

Privacy and data