Diagnostic test · NHS England, July 2026
Gastroscopy NHS waiting times
A gastroscopy (upper endoscopy) uses a thin camera to look at the food pipe, stomach and first part of the small bowel. In July 2026, 76,455 people were waiting for one in England and 29.0% had waited 6 weeks or more.
People waiting
76,455
▼ −352 vs previous month
Waiting 6+ weeks
29.0%
▼ −1.0pp vs previous month
Standard: under 1%
Median wait so far
3.2 weeks
Tests done in the month
69,513
Thinking of paying privately?
Published self-pay prices for a gastroscopy at the main UK private hospital groups start from £1,344 (up to about £2,995).
Shortest gastroscopy waits
Providers with at least 200 people waiting, sorted by share waiting 6+ weeks (July 2026).
| Hospital / provider | 6+ weeks | Median |
|---|---|---|
| United Lincolnshire Teaching HospitalsEast Midlands | 0.0% | 1.7 weeks |
| Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - St Marys Portsmouth | 0.0% | 1.8 weeks |
| Mid Yorkshire TeachingYorkshire & the Humber | 0.2% | 2.2 weeks |
| East Sussex HealthcareSouth East | 0.3% | 1.3 weeks |
| Calderdale and HuddersfieldYorkshire & the Humber | 0.3% | 2.5 weeks |
| Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching HospitalsYorkshire & the Humber | 0.5% | 1.3 weeks |
| East Lancashire HospitalsNorth West | 1.2% | 1.9 weeks |
| University Hospitals of Morecambe BayNorth West | 1.4% | 1.6 weeks |
| North Tees and HartlepoolNorth East & Yorkshire | 1.4% | 2.5 weeks |
| Imperial College HealthcareLondon | 1.8% | 1.8 weeks |
| Barking, Havering and Redbridge University HospitalsLondon | 1.8% | 2.1 weeks |
| Northumbria HealthcareNorth East & Yorkshire | 2.1% | 1.4 weeks |
| BoltonNorth West | 2.1% | 2.2 weeks |
| Chelsea and Westminster HospitalLondon | 2.2% | 1.5 weeks |
| The Dudley GroupWest Midlands | 2.5% | 2.5 weeks |
Longest gastroscopy waits
- Kingston and Richmond79.2% 6+ wks
- Hampshire Hospitals75.1% 6+ wks
- Portsmouth Hospitals University74.9% 6+ wks
- Northampton General Hospital69.5% 6+ wks
- Oxford University Hospitals67.9% 6+ wks
- Barts Health63.6% 6+ wks
- University Hospitals Birmingham61.9% 6+ wks
- Isle of Wight60.5% 6+ wks
- Mid and South Essex59.8% 6+ wks
- West Suffolk58.9% 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 | 76,455 | 71.0% | 10,448 |
| June 2026 | 76,807 | 70.0% | 10,736 |
| May 2026 | 79,611 | 69.4% | 11,039 |
| April 2026 | 81,127 | 68.9% | 10,336 |
| March 2026 | 78,672 | 72.5% | 9,035 |
| February 2026 | 77,146 | 73.1% | 9,793 |
| January 2026 | 75,047 | 69.8% | 10,031 |
| December 2025 | 70,716 | 70.4% | 9,559 |
| November 2025 | 69,987 | 72.2% | 8,742 |
| October 2025 | 69,980 | 74.2% | 8,475 |
| September 2025 | 68,067 | 73.0% | 8,991 |
| August 2025 | 67,460 | 71.7% | 8,531 |
| July 2025 | 69,279 | 74.7% | 7,683 |
Questions
How long is the NHS waiting list for a gastroscopy?
In July 2026, 76,455 people in England were waiting for a gastroscopy. Half had waited longer than 3.2 weeks and 29.0% 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 gastroscopy?
Among providers with at least 200 people waiting, the lowest share waiting 6+ weeks in July 2026 was at United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals (0.0%), Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - St Marys Portsmouth (0.0%), Mid Yorkshire Teaching (0.2%).
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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