James Cook waiting times
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust runs James Cook University Hospital. Here is how long people waited for treatment there, by specialty, in August 2026.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Middlesbrough, North East, TS4 3BW. ODS code RTR.
Hospital waiting times near Middlesbrough. A&E waiting times near Middlesbrough.
A&E in September 2026
48% of 7,575 people at this trust's 24-hour A&E departments were seen, treated and admitted or sent home within 4 hours. 18 people waited over 12 hours for a bed after a decision to admit.
Over the last 18 months: Apr 25 51%, May 25 49%, Jun 25 50%, Jul 25 52%, Aug 25 48%, Sep 25 47%, Oct 25 49%, Nov 25 49%, Dec 25 53%, Jan 26 46%, Feb 26 50%, Mar 26 55%, Apr 26 49%, May 26 54%, Jun 26 52%, Jul 26 58%, Aug 26 50%, Sep 26 48%.
Covers every A&E this trust runs. How every trust compares.
Waits by specialty
Each band runs from the point where half of patients had been treated to the point where 9 in 10 had.
| Specialty | Treated waits | Waiting now | Within 18 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiology | 6 to 23 weeks | 11 to 32 weeks | 74% |
| Cardiothoracic surgery | 6 to 32 weeks | 8 to 29 weeks | 80% |
| Dermatology | 5 to 32 weeks | 12 to 38 weeks | 64% |
| Ear, nose and throat | 14 to 49 weeks | 16 to 41 weeks | 55% |
| Elderly medicine | 1 to 14 weeks | 6 to 14 weeks | 95% |
| Gastroenterology | 3 to 12 weeks | 6 to 16 weeks | 94% |
| General internal medicine | 1 to 5 weeks | 4 to 13 weeks | 100% |
| General surgery | 12 to 45 weeks | 13 to 37 weeks | 65% |
| Gynaecology | 4 to 23 weeks | 14 to 38 weeks | 63% |
| Neurology | 18 to 56 weeks | 15 to 48 weeks | 58% |
| Neurosurgery | 13 to 30 weeks | 11 to 29 weeks | 76% |
| Ophthalmology | 9 to 26 weeks | 10 to 25 weeks | 79% |
| Other medical services | 6 to 33 weeks | 13 to 42 weeks | 62% |
| Other paediatric services | 11 to 35 weeks | 12 to 34 weeks | 68% |
| Other services | 2 to 6 weeks | 3 to 15 weeks | 98% |
| Other surgical services | 7 to 48 weeks | 14 to 42 weeks | 60% |
| Plastic surgery | 7 to 37 weeks | 11 to 40 weeks | 69% |
| Respiratory medicine | 6 to 17 weeks | 9 to 25 weeks | 83% |
| Rheumatology | 2 to 45 weeks | 14 to 36 weeks | 60% |
| Trauma and orthopaedics | 4 to 33 weeks | 12 to 36 weeks | 68% |
| Urology | 8 to 33 weeks | 12 to 37 weeks | 66% |
| Other mental health services | Too few patients to show | ||
NHS England figures, . Checked for new figures . About the data.
Sites this trust runs: James Cook University Hospital, Ech - East Cleveland Hospital, Friarage Hospital Site, Pch - Peterlee Community Hospital, Rutson Hospital, Tees Valley Hospital, The James Cook University Hospital, West Lane Hospital. The figures below cover all of them.
Where to find them
- James Cook University Hospital
Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW Map - Ech - East Cleveland Hospital
Alford Road, Brotton, Saltburn-By-The-Sea, TS12 2FF Map - Friarage Hospital Site
Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, DL6 1JG Map - Rutson Hospital
The Rutson Rehabilitation Unit, The Friarage, Northallerton, DL6 1JG Map - Tees Valley Hospital
Church Lane, Middlesbrough, TS5 7DX Map - The James Cook University Hospital
Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW Map
Addresses from the NHS Organisation Data Service.
Scan and test waits
People waiting for each test in August 2026, and the share who had waited over six weeks. The standard is under 1 in 100.
| Test | Waiting | Over six weeks | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultrasound scan | 3,158 | 1% | 22% |
| MRI scan | 2,156 | 14% | 22% |
| Hearing test | 959 | 44% | 43% |
| CT scan | 887 | 1% | 11% |
| Nerve conduction test | 850 | 69% | 45% |
| Echocardiogram | 678 | 4% | 30% |
| DEXA bone density scan | 491 | 4% | 21% |
| Gastroscopy | 428 | 12% | 30% |
| Colonoscopy | 388 | 7% | 31% |
| Cystoscopy | 169 | 38% | 27% |
| Urodynamics | 161 | 97% | 47% |
| Flexible sigmoidoscopy | 102 | 10% | 33% |
| Sleep study | 94 | 69% | 35% |
| Barium enema | 60 | 0% | 26% |
NHS England figures, . Checked for new figures . About the data.
Questions people ask
How long is the waiting list at James Cook?
At the end of August 2026, 58,402 people were on the waiting list across all specialties. Half had waited under 12 weeks and 9 in 10 under 38 weeks. 66% were within the 18-week standard. Each specialty in the table below has its own figure.
Can I check where I am on the waiting list?
Not from this site: these are NHS England's monthly figures for whole specialties, not individual patients. The NHS App shows your own referral, and the hospital's patient advice and liaison service (PALS) can tell you your position and whether your referral is marked urgent. See how your wait compares.
How do I get seen sooner than the James Cook wait time?
When your GP refers you, you can choose any hospital in England that holds an NHS contract, including independent hospitals the NHS pays for. If you have already waited over 18 weeks with no date in the next 8 weeks, you can ask to move. Compare every hospital near you first. Hospital waiting times near Middlesbrough.