NHSQueueIndependent waiting-time data

Guide

Can you jump the NHS waiting list? Use your right to choose

By the NHSQueue Data Team · Updated 26 September 2026 · Figures: NHS England, July 2026

In short

  • You cannot skip the queue, but in England you can usually pick which queue you join.
  • When your GP refers you, you can choose any NHS or NHS-funded independent provider that offers the service.
  • Waits differ a lot: across England only 65.3% of patients are within 18 weeks, but some providers are well above 90%.

What the right to choose is

In England, if you are referred to a consultant-led service for a planned (non-emergency) treatment, you have a legal right to choose the organisation that provides your first outpatient appointment. That includes NHS hospitals and independent hospitals that hold an NHS contract for the service. Treatment stays free: it is an NHS referral wherever you go.

How to use it, step by step

  1. Check the waits. Find your specialty and compare hospitals near you on NHSQueue, or look at the estimated waits shown in the NHS App when you manage your referral.
  2. Tell your GP before the referral is sent. Say which hospital you would like and why (for example a shorter wait, or one closer to family).
  3. Book through the NHS e-Referral Service or the NHS App, choosing the provider you agreed with your GP.
  4. Think about travel. A shorter wait further away can mean several trips for appointments, scans and follow-ups.

When it does not apply

  • Emergency and urgent care, including A&E.
  • Maternity services.
  • If you are already receiving care for that condition (ask the hospital about options instead).
  • Some groups, such as serving members of the armed forces or people in prison or secure hospitals, follow different rules.

Already waiting a long time?

The NHS Constitution sets a maximum wait of 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment. If that cannot be met, the NHS should take reasonable steps to offer you alternative providers. Contact the hospital’s patient advice and liaison service (PALS) or your integrated care board (ICB) and ask what alternatives are available.

Compare waiting times by specialty

Frequently asked questions

Can I jump the NHS waiting list?

No one can legitimately skip ahead of other patients on the same list: clinical urgency decides the order. What you can often do is choose a different hospital or provider whose list is shorter, using your right to choose when you are referred.

Who can use the right to choose?

Most people in England referred by a GP (or another professional) to a consultant-led service for a non-emergency physical or mental health condition. It does not usually apply to emergency care, maternity services or if you are already being treated for that condition, and there are separate rules for people in the armed forces or in secure settings.

Can I choose a private hospital on the NHS?

Yes, if that independent hospital holds an NHS contract for the service you need. Many independent providers treat NHS patients for free, especially for orthopaedics and eye surgery, and they appear in NHS England's waiting-time statistics.

What if I have already waited more than 18 weeks?

The NHS Constitution says you should start consultant-led treatment within 18 weeks of referral. If that is not possible, the NHS should take reasonable steps to offer you suitable alternative providers. Contact the hospital or your local integrated care board (ICB) to ask.

This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. For the official rules see Your choices in the NHS (nhs.uk).