Waiting Times
This page was last updated: February 10th, 2023
All patients waiting are prioritised according to their clinical need by our clinical staff and we are doing our utmost to ensure you get the treatment you require as soon as possible. We are reviewing patients who have been waiting a long time as we know some people’s conditions, needs and treatment wishes will change over time.
Patients will be treated according to their clinical priority:
- Suspected cancer referrals – we aim that you are seen for your first appointment within 14 days of your referral being received.
- Urgent – you will be prioritised over routine referrals, but the waiting times for patients who are considered urgent will vary from specialty to specialty.
- Routine – you will be treated in chronological order from the date your referral was made or received.
The current wait times for treatment are available below.
Appointment waiting times
Waiting times for NHS services have increased significantly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic across Cornwall and the rest of the country. While many aspects of day-to-day life are returning to how they were before the pandemic, COVID-19 still impacts our local NHS services. Our hospitals are under increased pressure and there is still a very high demand for healthcare services and hospital beds across Cornwall.
We are taking a number of steps to try and improve this situation and our teams are working hard to see you as quickly as we possibly can. We are reviewing patients who have been waiting a long time as we know some people’s conditions, needs and treatment wishes will change over time. All patients waiting are prioritised according to their clinical need and we are doing our utmost to ensure you get the treatment you require as soon as possible.
The current wait times for treatment are available below.
First Outpatient Appointment Waiting Times
| Service | Weeks |
|---|---|
| Anticoagulant Service | 19 |
| Audiology | 9 |
| Bariatric Surgery Service | 8 |
| Breast Surgery | 4 |
| Cardiac Physiology Service | 25 |
| Cardiology | 48 |
| Chemical Pathology | 13 |
| Clinical Immunology | 73 |
| Clinical Neurophysiology | 6 |
| Oncology (clinical) | 18 |
| Psychology (clinical) | 74 |
| Colorectal surgery | 2 |
| Community Paediatrics | 56 |
| Dermatology | 29 |
| Diabetic Medicine | 21 |
| Diagnostic Imaging | 11 |
| Dietetics | 32 |
| Ear Nose & Throat | 25 |
| Endocrinology | 29 |
| Eyes -Ophthalmology | 29 |
| Fetal Medicine Service | 10 |
| Gastroenterology | 28 |
| Gastrointestinal Physiology Service | 13 |
| General surgery | 57 |
| Geriatric Medicine | 24 |
| Gynaecology | 48 |
| Gynaecology Oncology | 3 |
| Haematology (clinical) | 13 |
| Hepatology | 13 |
| Infectious Diseases | 5 |
| Nephrology | 19 |
| Neurology | 89 |
| Occupational Therapy | 58 |
| Ophthalmic and Vision Science Service | 17 |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service | 17 |
| Orthodontics | 28 |
| Orthopaedics | 51 |
| Orthoptics | 14 |
| Paediatric Audiological Medicine | 12 |
| Paediatric Cardiology | 9 |
| Paediatric Clinical Immunology and Allergy | 55 |
| Paediatric Diabetic Medicine | 7 |
| Paediatric Endocrinology | 10 |
| Paediatric Gastroenterology | 23 |
| Paediatric Neurology | 37 |
| Paediatric Respiratory Medicine | 35 |
| Paediatric Rheumatology | 16 |
| Paediatric Surgery | 40 |
| Paediatric Urology | 38 |
| Paediatrics | 41 |
| Paediatrics Neurodisability | 57 |
| Pain Management | 31 |
| Physiotherapy | 33 |
| Post-COVID-19 Syndrome Service | 14 |
| Rehabilitation | 34 |
| Respiratory Medicine | 45 |
| Respiratory Physiology | 26 |
| Rheumatology | 15 |
| Sleep Medicine Service | 27 |
| Urological Physiology Service | 12 |
| Urology | 46 |
| Vascular surgery | 24 |
Referral To Treatment Times
| Service | Weeks |
|---|---|
| Bariatric Surgery Service | 72 |
| Breast Surgery | 22 |
| Cardiology | 48 |
| Chemical Pathology | 10 |
| Clinical Immunology | 37 |
| Clinical Neurophysiology | 27 |
| Clinical Oncology | 18 |
| Colorectal Surgery | 68 |
| Community Paediatrics | 40 |
| Dermatology | 32 |
| Diabetic Medicine | 22 |
| Diagnostic Imaging | 15 |
| Endocrinology | 26 |
| ENT | 35 |
| Gastroenterology | 23 |
| Gastrointestinal Physiology Service | 42 |
| General Surgery | 42 |
| Geriatric Medicine | 27 |
| Gynaecology | 50 |
| Gynaecology Oncology | 11 |
| Haematology (clinical) | 15 |
| Hepatology | 19 |
| Nephrology | 13 |
| Neurology | 65 |
| Ophthalmic and Vision Science Service | 25 |
| Ophthalmology | 26 |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service | 30 |
| Orthodontics | 33 |
| Paediatric Cardiology | 35 |
| Paediatric Neurology | 45 |
| Paediatric Surgery | 35 |
| Paediatric Urology | 46 |
| Paediatrics | 27 |
| Pain Management | 22 |
| Rehabilitation | 18 |
| Respiratory Medicine | 27 |
| Respiratory Physiology | 37 |
| Rheumatology | 17 |
| Sleep Medicine Service | 32 |
| Trauma and Orthopaedic Service | 59 |
| Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery | 67 |
| Urological Physiology Service | 23 |
| Urology | 43 |
| Vascular surgery | 41 |
