Diagnostic test · NHS England, July 2026
Audiology assessment NHS waiting times
Audiology assessments are hearing tests carried out by hospital audiology services. In July 2026, 124,843 people were waiting for one in England and 41.5% had waited 6 weeks or more.
People waiting
124,843
▼ −56 vs previous month
Waiting 6+ weeks
41.5%
▲ +0.3pp vs previous month
Standard: under 1%
Median wait so far
4.7 weeks
Tests done in the month
132,440
Shortest audiology assessment waits
Providers with at least 200 people waiting, sorted by share waiting 6+ weeks (July 2026).
| Hospital / provider | 6+ weeks | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Free LondonLondon | 0.0% | 1.1 weeks |
| Royal BerkshireSouth East | 0.0% | 2.1 weeks |
| The RotherhamYorkshire & the Humber | 0.0% | 2.4 weeks |
| Croydon Health ServicesLondon | 0.3% | 2.7 weeks |
| Berkshire HealthcareSouth East | 0.9% | 1.5 weeks |
| Mid Yorkshire TeachingYorkshire & the Humber | 1.0% | 2.1 weeks |
| AiredaleYorkshire & the Humber | 1.2% | 2.5 weeks |
| North Cheshire and MerseyNorth West | 1.3% | 2.2 weeks |
| Liverpool University HospitalsNorth West | 1.4% | 2.6 weeks |
| Maidstone and Tunbridge WellsSouth East | 1.5% | 1.6 weeks |
| Gloucestershire HospitalsSouth West | 1.5% | 2.2 weeks |
| Manchester UniversityNorth West | 2.2% | 1.9 weeks |
| Hampshire HospitalsSouth East | 2.4% | 1.9 weeks |
| East Suffolk and North EssexEast of England | 2.6% | 2.3 weeks |
| East Sussex HealthcareSouth East | 2.7% | 2.6 weeks |
Longest audiology assessment waits
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn89.2% 6+ wks
- East and North Hertfordshire Teaching89.0% 6+ wks
- United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals84.6% 6+ wks
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals83.0% 6+ wks
- Bedfordshire Hospitals80.9% 6+ wks
- Kettering General Hospital79.4% 6+ wks
- Portsmouth Hospitals University78.1% 6+ wks
- Milton Keynes University Hospital78.1% 6+ wks
- Oxford University Hospitals77.7% 6+ wks
- The Princess Alexandra Hospital75.8% 6+ wks
England, last 13 months
% of people waiting under 6 weeks
Show month-by-month figures
| Month | Waiting | Within 6 wks | 13+ wks |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 124,843 | 58.5% | 28,000 |
| June 2026 | 124,899 | 58.8% | 28,286 |
| May 2026 | 128,111 | 58.1% | 29,745 |
| April 2026 | 130,743 | 58.1% | 29,446 |
| March 2026 | 122,753 | 62.6% | 26,403 |
| February 2026 | 117,353 | 62.1% | 28,161 |
| January 2026 | 112,884 | 55.5% | 29,786 |
| December 2025 | 112,805 | 54.6% | 29,759 |
| November 2025 | 117,484 | 58.3% | 29,534 |
| October 2025 | 120,388 | 57.7% | 32,847 |
| September 2025 | 117,546 | 54.7% | 33,183 |
| August 2025 | 118,794 | 52.8% | 33,783 |
| July 2025 | 121,605 | 55.2% | 33,481 |
Questions
How long is the NHS waiting list for an audiology assessment?
In July 2026, 124,843 people in England were waiting for an audiology assessment. Half had waited longer than 4.7 weeks and 41.5% had waited 6 weeks or more. The NHS standard is that no more than 1% should wait 6 weeks.
Which hospitals have the shortest waits for an audiology assessment?
Among providers with at least 200 people waiting, the lowest share waiting 6+ weeks in July 2026 was at Royal Free London (0.0%), Royal Berkshire (0.0%), The Rotherham (0.0%).
Can I get a scan or test done faster?
Tests are usually booked by the hospital or GP team that referred you. If you have been waiting a long time, contact the department or the hospital's patient advice and liaison service (PALS). Some tests are also offered at community diagnostic centres.
Sources: NHS England statistics on referral to treatment (RTT) waiting times (July 2026), A&E attendances (August 2026), diagnostic waiting times (DM01) and cancer waiting times, published 10 September 2026; hospital sites from the nhs.uk organisation data. Figures are checked against the official national totals before every update.
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