NHS General Surgery Waiting Times in South East
Waiting times for all NHS and commissioned independent sector General Surgery providers in South East, covering Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Hampshire. Data sourced directly from NHS England RTT statistics.
18w
Regional average
4w
Shortest wait
35w
Longest wait
1w below
vs national average
All General Surgery hospitals in South East
Sorted by shortest treatment wait. Green badges indicate waits below 80% of the national average for this specialty.
| Hospital | Treatment wait | 8 in 10 patients wait |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 4w | 9w |
| St Marys Portsmouth Practice Plus Group | 7w | 10w |
| Mount Alvernia Hospital - Circle | 8w | 9w |
| Dorking General Hospital - Dorking Healthcare | 9w | 14w |
| The Runnymede Hospital - Circle | 9w | 9w |
| Gillingham Practice Plus Group | 9w | 12w |
| The Chaucer Hospital - Circle | 9w | 12w |
| Epsomedical Cobham | 10w | 16w |
| Alexandra Hospital - Spire | 11w | 20w |
| The Chiltern Hospital - Circle | 11w | 18w |
| Southampton Practice Plus Group | 11w | 17w |
| Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust | 12w | 23w |
| Berkshire Independent Hospital - Ramsay | 12w | 15w |
| Dunedin Hospital - Spire | 13w | 21w |
| Benenden Hospital | 13w | 18w |
| Epsomedical Epsom | 13w | 23w |
| East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 13w | 21w |
| Ashtead Hospital - Ramsay | 14w | 20w |
| Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust | 14w | 25w |
| Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust | 14w | 25w |
| Gatwick Park Hospital - Spire | 15w | 26w |
| Medway NHS Foundation Trust | 15w | 27w |
| The Hampshire Clinic - Circle | 15w | 24w |
| Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust | 16w | 30w |
| Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 18w | 42w |
| North Downs Hospital - Ramsay | 19w | 26w |
| University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust | 21w | 34w |
| Isle of Wight NHS Trust | 23w | 47w |
| Sarum Road Hospital - Circle | 23w | 40w |
| Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust | 25w | 49w |
| Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 27w | 46w |
| Montefiore Hospital - Spire | 27w | 37w |
| Clare Park Hospital - Spire | 29w | 41w |
| Thames Valley Hospital - Spire | 30w | 40w |
| East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 30w | 56w |
| Goring Hall Hospital - Circle | 31w | 38w |
| Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust | 32w | 49w |
| Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust | 32w | 55w |
| University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | 34w | 57w |
| Ashford and St Peter`s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 35w | 55w |
Your right to choose a hospital in South East
The NHS Constitution and the NHS Choice Framework give you the legal right to choose any NHS or commissioned independent sector provider in England for your first outpatient appointment. This right applies whether you live in South East or anywhere else in England. You are not limited to the hospital your GP first mentions, and you are not limited to providers within your local Integrated Care Board area.
If you have already been referred and are waiting at a hospital with a longer wait, ask your GP to redirect your referral to a provider with a shorter wait. Our Switch Pack includes a letter template and a step-by-step guide to help you make that request.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the average NHS General Surgery wait in South East?
Based on the latest NHS England RTT data, the average treatment wait for General Surgery in South East is 18 weeks. The shortest available wait across 40 reporting hospitals is 4 weeks. Figures are refreshed weekly.
Can I choose a hospital outside South East for my NHS referral?
Yes. The NHS Choice Framework gives you the legal right to choose any NHS or commissioned independent sector provider in England, regardless of which region you live in. If a hospital in a different region has a shorter wait, you can ask your GP to refer you there instead.
Does patient choice apply to independent sector hospitals in South East?
Yes. Many private hospitals across South East are commissioned by the NHS under the Independent Sector Treatment Centre programme. These providers appear on the NHS e-Referral Service alongside NHS trusts. You pay nothing for your care, and they often have shorter waiting times. Ask your GP whether commissioned independent providers are available for your specialty.
What is the 18-week NHS waiting time standard?
The NHS Constitution states that patients should not wait more than 18 weeks from GP referral to the start of treatment. 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 target. ShorterWait shows you the current wait at every reporting hospital.
Data sourced from NHS England Referral to Treatment (RTT) statistics under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Not medical advice. Always consult your GP before changing your care arrangements.
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