Diagnostic test · NHS England, July 2026
Colonoscopy NHS waiting times
A colonoscopy uses a thin camera to look inside the large bowel. In July 2026, 79,780 people were waiting for one in England and 30.8% had waited 6 weeks or more.
People waiting
79,780
▲ +333 vs previous month
Waiting 6+ weeks
30.8%
▼ −1.3pp vs previous month
Standard: under 1%
Median wait so far
3.3 weeks
Tests done in the month
59,839
Thinking of paying privately?
Published self-pay prices for a colonoscopy at the main UK private hospital groups start from £1,564 (up to about £3,635).
Shortest colonoscopy waits
Providers with at least 200 people waiting, sorted by share waiting 6+ weeks (July 2026).
| Hospital / provider | 6+ weeks | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Royal SurreySouth East | 0.0% | 1.4 weeks |
| United Lincolnshire Teaching HospitalsEast Midlands | 0.0% | 1.6 weeks |
| Mid Yorkshire TeachingYorkshire & the Humber | 0.0% | 1.7 weeks |
| Whittington HealthLondon | 0.0% | 1.7 weeks |
| Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching HospitalsYorkshire & the Humber | 0.4% | 1.2 weeks |
| Dartford and GraveshamSouth East | 0.4% | 1.3 weeks |
| University Hospitals Coventry and WarwickshireWest Midlands | 0.5% | 1.3 weeks |
| Calderdale and HuddersfieldYorkshire & the Humber | 0.6% | 1.9 weeks |
| East Sussex HealthcareSouth East | 0.7% | 1.3 weeks |
| East Lancashire HospitalsNorth West | 1.0% | 1.8 weeks |
| North Tees and HartlepoolNorth East & Yorkshire | 1.2% | 1.4 weeks |
| BoltonNorth West | 1.3% | 1.8 weeks |
| Tameside and Glossop Integrated CareNorth West | 1.5% | 1.7 weeks |
| Imperial College HealthcareLondon | 1.5% | 1.8 weeks |
| MedwaySouth East | 1.9% | 1.8 weeks |
Longest colonoscopy waits
- Portsmouth Hospitals University82.5% 6+ wks
- Hampshire Hospitals72.8% 6+ wks
- Kingston and Richmond70.0% 6+ wks
- Northampton General Hospital64.7% 6+ wks
- Mid and South Essex64.1% 6+ wks
- Isle of Wight61.1% 6+ wks
- Oxford University Hospitals59.6% 6+ wks
- West Suffolk59.1% 6+ wks
- University Hospitals Birmingham58.4% 6+ wks
- Beacon Medical Services Group Limited57.5% 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 | 79,780 | 69.2% | 11,497 |
| June 2026 | 79,447 | 67.9% | 12,030 |
| May 2026 | 80,455 | 67.9% | 12,466 |
| April 2026 | 81,754 | 68.1% | 11,597 |
| March 2026 | 78,624 | 71.2% | 10,399 |
| February 2026 | 76,490 | 70.4% | 11,176 |
| January 2026 | 74,543 | 66.9% | 11,625 |
| December 2025 | 71,536 | 67.2% | 10,809 |
| November 2025 | 69,386 | 69.5% | 9,734 |
| October 2025 | 71,864 | 73.2% | 9,410 |
| September 2025 | 68,862 | 71.4% | 9,903 |
| August 2025 | 68,163 | 70.0% | 9,747 |
| July 2025 | 69,152 | 72.7% | 8,892 |
Questions
How long is the NHS waiting list for a colonoscopy?
In July 2026, 79,780 people in England were waiting for a colonoscopy. Half had waited longer than 3.3 weeks and 30.8% 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 a colonoscopy?
Among providers with at least 200 people waiting, the lowest share waiting 6+ weeks in July 2026 was at Royal Surrey (0.0%), United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals (0.0%), Mid Yorkshire Teaching (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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