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NHS England's July 2026 RTT release shows 7.3 million treatments waiting and a median wait of 12.0 weeks, down from 12.4 weeks in May. But 111,379 pathways had waited more than a year, up from 104,734. The 92nd percentile was broadly flat at 38.4 weeks.
- ✓The waiting list stands at 7.3 million treatments as of July 2026, unchanged in round terms since May.
- ✓The median wait fell from 12.4 to 12.0 weeks, and fell in almost every specialty we track.
- ✓Pathways waiting over 52 weeks rose from 104,734 to 111,379, and over 65 weeks from 6,740 to 9,095.
The headline numbers, May to July
Our last analysis covered the May 2026 release. Since then NHS England has published June and July data. Here is how the July figures, published 10 September 2026, compare with May. All figures are national, commissioner basis, and the list size and long-wait counts include NHS England's estimates for trusts that did not submit data.
| Measure | May 2026 | July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Treatments waiting | 7.28 million | 7.33 million |
| Median wait | 12.4 weeks | 12.0 weeks |
| 92nd percentile (1 in 12) | 38.6 weeks | 38.4 weeks |
| Waiting over 52 weeks | 104,734 | 111,379 |
| Waiting over 65 weeks | 6,740 | 9,095 |
| Waiting within 18 weeks | 65.6% | 65.4% |
June's figures, published in August, fell between the two. The median was 11.9 weeks, the 92nd percentile 38.3 weeks, and 105,711 pathways had waited more than a year. So the fall in the median came mostly between May and June. The sharper rise in year-long waits came between June and July, when the count grew by more than 5,000 in a single month.
Where waits moved by specialty
Medians fell in most of the specialties on our waiting times tracker. Dermatology, gastroenterology and mental health saw the largest falls. ENT and ophthalmology were unchanged.
| Specialty | Median, May 2026 | Median, July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Oral surgery | 16.0 weeks | 15.9 weeks |
| ENT | 14.8 weeks | 14.8 weeks |
| Gynaecology | 13.9 weeks | 13.8 weeks |
| Trauma & orthopaedics | 14.1 weeks | 13.5 weeks |
| Neurology | 14.0 weeks | 13.4 weeks |
| General surgery | 13.3 weeks | 12.6 weeks |
| Urology | 12.7 weeks | 12.2 weeks |
| Cardiology | 12.1 weeks | 11.7 weeks |
| Gastroenterology | 11.8 weeks | 10.9 weeks |
| Ophthalmology | 10.2 weeks | 10.2 weeks |
| Dermatology | 11.3 weeks | 10.2 weeks |
| Mental health | 9.3 weeks | 8.2 weeks |
The long tails moved much less. In trauma and orthopaedics, 1 in 12 patients had waited 41.5 weeks or more (41.8 in May). In ENT it was 40.9 weeks (41.6), and in oral surgery 42.6 weeks (43.2).
Why year-long waits rose while the median fell
These two movements can happen together. The median describes the middle of the queue. It falls when many newer referrals join the list or are treated quickly. July saw 1,985,434 new pathways started, which adds many short waits to the list and pulls the median down. A shorter middle says nothing about people already at the back.
At the back, the counts rose. In July, 111,379 pathways had waited more than 52 weeks, 9,095 more than 65 weeks, 1,494 more than 78 weeks and 235 more than two years. The rise is visible in the specialty data as well as nationally. Trauma and orthopaedics alone accounted for 19,981 of the year-plus pathways reported in July. This is the pattern we described in the 1-in-12 problem: the headline improves while the tail does not.
Waiting longer than you'd like?
What this means if you're on the list
For most people joining the list now, the typical wait is about three months from referral to treatment. It is slightly shorter than it was in the spring. If you have already been waiting a long time, the July data does not suggest the back of the queue is clearing faster. It is worth knowing your 18-week rights and asking about choice of provider. You can also compare self-pay and insurance routes. Private timelines are typically a consultation within days, diagnostics in one to two weeks and routine surgery in two to six weeks. These are indicative, not guaranteed.
NHS England's next monthly release will cover August 2026. The waiting times tracker is updated with each release.
Frequently asked questions
What did the July 2026 NHS waiting times data show?
The July 2026 RTT release, published 10 September 2026, showed 7.3 million treatments waiting and a median wait of 12.0 weeks. The 92nd percentile was 38.4 weeks, and 111,379 pathways had waited more than a year. The median was lower than in May. The year-plus count was higher.
Did NHS waiting times go down in July 2026?
The median wait did, from 12.4 weeks in May to 12.0 weeks in July, and it fell in most specialties. Long waits went up: pathways waiting more than 52 weeks rose from 104,734 to 111,379, and those waiting more than 65 weeks from 6,740 to 9,095.
Which specialty had the longest median wait in July 2026?
Of the specialties on our tracker, oral surgery had the longest median wait in July 2026 at 15.9 weeks. ENT was next at 14.8 weeks, then gynaecology at 13.8 weeks. Mental health (8.2 weeks), dermatology (10.2) and ophthalmology (10.2) had the shortest.
Are the July 2026 waiting list figures complete?
Not entirely. Three NHS trusts and one independent sector provider did not submit July 2026 data. NHS England's national headline figures include estimates for them. Specialty-level tables cover submitted data only.