Procedure · Other Surgical
Varicose vein treatment NHS waiting times
Waiting-list data: July 2026Published by NHS England on · next release expected 8 October 2026 · sources
Treatments to close or remove swollen veins in the legs. On the NHS it is usually offered only when veins cause symptoms or complications. On the NHS it is carried out by other surgical teams. In July 2026, half of the 470,577 people waiting for other surgical in England had waited longer than 11.3 weeks.
Median wait, other surgical
11.3 weeks
▲ +0.1 wk vs previous month
Waiting under 18 weeks
66.5%
▲ +0.1pp vs previous month
NHS standard: 92%
People waiting in England
470,577
▼ −1,399 vs previous month
Waiting over 52 weeks
7,648
Thinking of paying privately?
Published self-pay prices for varicose vein treatment at the main UK private hospital groups start from £1,795 (up to about £5,126).
Shortest other surgical waits in England
Providers with at least 500 patients waiting, sorted by median wait so far (July 2026). Includes independent hospitals that treat NHS patients.
| Hospital / provider | Median | Under 18 wks |
|---|---|---|
| North Tees and HartlepoolNorth East & Yorkshire | 3.0 weeks | 82.4% |
| Northern Lincolnshire and GooleYorkshire & the Humber | 3.5 weeks | 89.5% |
| Great Western HospitalsSouth West | 3.6 weeks | 81.2% |
| Tameside and Glossop Integrated CareNorth West | 5.5 weeks | 87.8% |
| Maidstone and Tunbridge WellsSouth East | 5.6 weeks | 86.2% |
| The RotherhamYorkshire & the Humber | 5.8 weeks | 81.7% |
| East Sussex HealthcareSouth East | 6.2 weeks | 77.4% |
| East CheshireNorth West | 6.4 weeks | 89.4% |
| Walsall HealthcareWest Midlands | 6.6 weeks | 77.7% |
| George Eliot HospitalWest Midlands | 6.9 weeks | 81.6% |
| Hull University Teaching HospitalsYorkshire & the Humber | 7.1 weeks | 65.1% |
| Royal SurreySouth East | 7.2 weeks | 80.4% |
Other Surgical waits by region
Share of patients waiting under 18 weeks, July 2026.
- West Midlands70.7%35,814 waiting
- South West70.6%47,155 waiting
- Yorkshire & the Humber67.8%31,638 waiting
- East of England66.9%39,446 waiting
- London65.9%112,416 waiting
- North West65.5%74,936 waiting
- North East & Yorkshire64.1%19,092 waiting
- South East63.4%71,601 waiting
- East Midlands62.8%32,132 waiting
Other Surgical in England, last 13 months
% waiting under 18 weeks
Show month-by-month figures
| Month | Waiting | Within 18 wks | Over 52 wks |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 470,577 | 66.5% | 7,648 |
| June 2026 | 471,976 | 66.4% | 7,048 |
| May 2026 | 469,136 | 66.1% | 6,630 |
| April 2026 | 465,868 | 65.5% | 6,016 |
| March 2026 | 467,771 | 66.1% | 5,642 |
| February 2026 | 476,457 | 63.5% | 7,929 |
| January 2026 | 483,202 | 62.2% | 9,189 |
| December 2025 | 481,435 | 62.4% | 9,186 |
| November 2025 | 479,566 | 62.9% | 10,442 |
| October 2025 | 483,574 | 63.2% | 11,540 |
| September 2025 | 477,059 | 63.3% | 12,226 |
| August 2025 | 476,402 | 62.6% | 12,703 |
| July 2025 | 478,284 | 62.7% | 12,457 |
Waiting a long time for varicose vein treatment?
In England you can usually choose which hospital you are referred to, including independent hospitals that treat NHS patients.
How the right to choose worksQuestions about varicose vein treatment waits
How long is the NHS waiting list for varicose vein treatment?
NHS England does not publish waits for individual operations. Varicose vein treatment is managed by other surgical teams: in July 2026, 470,577 people in England were waiting for other surgical treatment, half had waited longer than 11.3 weeks and 66.5% had waited under 18 weeks. Waits vary a lot between hospitals.
Which hospitals have the shortest waits for varicose vein treatment?
Among larger providers, the shortest other surgical median waits in July 2026 were at North Tees and Hartlepool (3.0 weeks), Northern Lincolnshire and Goole (3.5 weeks), Great Western Hospitals (3.6 weeks). Check the provider treats your condition before asking to be referred there.
Can I get varicose vein treatment faster on the NHS?
In England you can usually choose which hospital you are referred to, including independent hospitals that treat NHS patients. Choosing a provider with a shorter list is the main legitimate way to be treated sooner.
Can I pay for varicose vein treatment privately?
Yes. Private hospitals publish their own self-pay prices, which vary by hospital and by what is included (consultations, scans, follow-up). Ask for a fixed all-inclusive price and check the hospital on the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN).
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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