NHS Ear, Nose and Throat Waiting Times
The average NHS Ear, Nose and Throat wait in England is 20 weeks, but it ranges from 6 weeks at Buckhurst Hill Essex Nuffield to 44 weeks elsewhere. That gap is yours to use — you have a legal right to choose where you are treated.
What Ear, Nose and Throat covers
ENT covers the ears, nose, throat, and the head and neck. Common reasons to be referred include hearing loss, ringing in the ears, blocked sinuses, tonsil problems, a hoarse voice, snoring and sleep apnoea, and — in children — grommets for glue ear.
People are usually referred here for
- Hearing loss or ringing in the ears
- Blocked or recurrent sinus problems
- Tonsillitis or tonsil removal
- A hoarse voice or lump in the throat
- Snoring or sleep apnoea
- Grommets for glue ear in a child
20w
Avg treatment wait
6w
Shortest wait
44w
Longest wait
149
Hospitals reporting
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Shortest Ear, Nose and Throat waits in England
| # | Hospital | Region | Avg treatment wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Buckhurst Hill Essex Nuffield | East of England | 6w |
| 02 | Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | South East | 7w |
| 03 | Benenden Hospital | South East | 8w |
| 04 | Bushey Hospital - Spire | East of England | 8w |
| 05 | Clare Park Hospital - Spire | South East | 8w |
| 06 | St Marys Portsmouth Practice Plus Group | South East | 8w |
| 07 | Ilford Practice Plus Group | London | 9w |
| 08 | Harpenden Hospital - Spire | East of England | 9w |
| 09 | Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust | North West | 10w |
| 10 | King`s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | London | 10w |
Average Ear, Nose and Throat wait by region
Procedures treated under Ear, Nose and Throat
Waiting lists are recorded by specialty, so all of these share the Ear, Nose and Throat wait times above.
Browse all conditions →Were you referred somewhere else?
The same problem is sometimes handled by a different department, and the wait can be very different. Check these too:
Your right to choose a Ear, Nose and Throat hospital
Under the NHS Constitution and the Health Act 2009, you have a legal right to choose which NHS or NHS-commissioned independent sector provider sees you for your first outpatient Ear, Nose and Throat appointment.
Your GP must refer you via the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) and offer you at least five choices. If you have already been referred to a hospital with a long wait, you can ask your GP to re-refer you to a provider with a shorter wait. This is entirely within your rights.
Research shows the average extra distance to a significantly shorter wait is just 13 miles.
Read the full Ear, Nose and Throat Right to Choose guide →Ready to find a shorter Ear, Nose and Throat wait?
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