NHS Ophthalmology Waiting Times in South East
Waiting times for all NHS and commissioned independent sector Ophthalmology providers in South East, covering Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Hampshire. Data sourced directly from NHS England RTT statistics.
12w
Regional average
3w
Shortest wait
27w
Longest wait
1w below
vs national average
All Ophthalmology 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Berkshire Independent Hospital - Ramsay | 3w | 4w |
| Southampton Practice Plus Group | 4w | 7w |
| Gillingham Practice Plus Group | 5w | 8w |
| Benenden Hospital | 5w | 6w |
| St Marys Portsmouth Practice Plus Group | 5w | 8w |
| Bexhill Spamedica | 6w | 7w |
| Brighton Spamedica | 6w | 8w |
| Solent Optegra | 7w | 10w |
| Maidstone Optegra | 7w | 10w |
| Surrey Optegra | 7w | 11w |
| Brighton Optegra | 7w | 10w |
| Wokingham Spamedica | 7w | 11w |
| Oxford Spamedica | 7w | 9w |
| Epsomedical Epsom Square | 8w | 11w |
| Epsomedical Cobham | 8w | 12w |
| Epsom Spamedica | 8w | 11w |
| Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 8w | 13w |
| Sittingbourne Spamedica | 8w | 11w |
| Oxfordshire Newmedica | 9w | 12w |
| Dartford Aces | 9w | 10w |
| East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 9w | 17w |
| Southampton East Street Aces | 10w | 13w |
| Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 10w | 18w |
| Slough CHEC | 10w | 15w |
| Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust | 11w | 21w |
| Ashtead Hospital - Ramsay | 11w | 16w |
| Epsomedical Epsom | 11w | 14w |
| Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 11w | 17w |
| Dorking General Hospital - Dorking Healthcare | 12w | 19w |
| University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust | 13w | 23w |
| Portsmouth Spamedica | 14w | 21w |
| Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust | 14w | 23w |
| The Chaucer Hospital - Circle | 15w | 19w |
| Southampton Spamedica | 15w | 17w |
| Basingstoke CHEC | 15w | 25w |
| Isle of Wight NHS Trust | 16w | 32w |
| Goring Hall Hospital - Circle | 16w | 22w |
| Slough Newmedica | 16w | 28w |
| Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust | 17w | 27w |
| East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 17w | 32w |
| Hampshire Newmedica | 18w | 29w |
| Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 18w | 29w |
| North Downs Hospital - Ramsay | 18w | 27w |
| Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust | 20w | 36w |
| Bracknell Newmedica | 20w | 34w |
| Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust | 20w | 35w |
| University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | 22w | 42w |
| Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust | 24w | 43w |
| Ashford and St Peter`s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 27w | 41w |
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 Ophthalmology wait in South East?
Based on the latest NHS England RTT data, the average treatment wait for Ophthalmology in South East is 12 weeks. The shortest available wait across 49 reporting hospitals is 3 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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