If you're referred for a physical or mental health condition, you have the legal right to start non-urgent consultant-led treatment, or be seen by a specialist for suspected cancer, within maximum waiting times.
This right only applies to services commissioned by the NHS in England and does not include public health services commissioned by local authorities, maternity services, or non-consultant-led mental health services.
Your waiting time starts from when the hospital or service receives your referral letter, or when you book your first appointment through the NHS e-Referral Service.
During this time period, you may:
- have tests, scans or other procedures to help ensure that your treatment is appropriate for your condition
- have medicine or therapy to manage your symptoms until you start treatment
- be referred to another consultant or department
Your waiting time ends if a clinician decides no treatment is necessary, if you decide you do not want to be treated, or when your treatment begins.
This could include:
- being admitted to hospital for an operation or treatment
- starting treatment that does not require you to stay in hospital, such as taking medicine
- beginning fitting for a medical device, such as leg braces
- agreeing to have your condition monitored for a time to see whether you need further treatment
- receiving advice from hospital staff about how to manage your condition
Tip: Did you know that in most cases you have the legal right to choose the hospital or service you'd like to go to, as well as the clinical team led by a consultant or named healthcare professional?
For more information, see our guidance on NHS hospital services and accessing mental health service.
Check waiting times
If you're waiting for a hospital appointment or treatment, you can use the My Planned Care website to check the waiting times at your hospital.
Maximum waiting times for non-urgent referrals
The maximum waiting time for non-urgent, consultant-led treatments is 18 weeks from the day your appointment is booked through the NHS e-Referral Service, or when the hospital or service receives your referral letter.
However, your right to an 18-week waiting time does not apply if:
- you choose to wait longer
- delaying the start of your treatment is in your best clinical interests, for example, when stopping smoking or losing weight first is likely to improve the outcome of your treatment
- it is clinically appropriate for your condition to be actively monitored in secondary care without clinical intervention or diagnostic procedures at that stage
- you fail to attend appointments that you had chosen from a set of reasonable options
- the treatment is no longer necessary
What to expect following an urgent suspected cancer referral
If you’re referred for an urgent cancer check, cancer should be confirmed or ruled out within 28 days of the referral. This is part of the Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS), which aims to diagnose and treat cancer as early as possible.
You’ll get a letter from the hospital within a few days of being referred to confirm they’ve received the referral. You should have an appointment with a specialist or to have tests soon afterwards (often within 2 weeks). Make sure you’re available for this appointment.
You have the legal right to ask to be seen or treated by a different provider if you're likely to wait longer than the maximum waiting time specified for your treatment.
The hospital or integrated care board (ICB) will have to investigate and offer you a range of suitable alternative hospitals or clinics that would be able to see you sooner. If you're not happy with the organisation's response, you can complain. Find out more about feedback and complaints about NHS services on the NHS England website.
NHS England has more detailed statistics on cancer waiting times
Compare waiting times
Waiting times may vary between hospitals, and you should consider this when choosing a hospital.
When you're referred for your first outpatient appointment, the NHS e-Referral Service lets you book the appointment at a hospital or clinic of your choice, on a date and at a time that suits you.
You can use the My Planned Care website to compare waiting times at different hospitals.
The length of time you wait will depend on your specific treatment and clinical needs, and you could be seen quicker or wait longer than the waiting time shown.
What happens if my operation is cancelled at the last minute?
If the hospital or service cancels your operation at the last minute (on or after the day of admission) and for non-clinical reasons, they should offer another binding date within 28 days or fund your treatment at a date and hospital of your choice.
If you're not offered an appointment within 28 days, you should complain to your local ICB. Find out more about feedback and complaints about NHS services on the NHS England website.
If your operation is cancelled before the day of admission, the hospital or service is not obliged to provide an alternative option within 28 days.
However, your right to start consultant-led treatment within a maximum waiting time still stands. If cancelling your appointment results in you having to wait longer, you have the right to ask the hospital or ICB to move you to a different provider.