Tonsillectomy waiting times on the NHS
The NHS waiting list for tonsillectomy is counted under ear, nose and throat: in August 2026, 9 in 10 people on it at a typical hospital had waited less than 38 weeks (NHS England). The figures below are for ENT as a whole at each hospital. Children treated by a paediatric ENT team may be counted under other paediatric services instead.
Shortest waits for ear, nose and throat, August 2026
- The Living Care Group 2 weeks most people Free on the NHS See this hospital
- Rsa (Athena Surgical Centre) 10 weeks most people Free on the NHS See this hospital
- Spire Cheshire Hospital 12 weeks most people Free on the NHS See this hospital
- Spire Harpenden Hospital 12 weeks most people Free on the NHS See this hospital
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 13 weeks most people See this hospital
- Beacon Medical Services Group Limited 15 weeks most people Free on the NHS See this hospital
- Clementine Churchill Hospital 15 weeks most people Free on the NHS See this hospital
- Spire Bushey Hospital 15 weeks most people Free on the NHS See this hospital
Every hospital in England, or pick your area: Enfield Manchester Birmingham Leeds Newcastle upon Tyne Sheffield Liverpool
Latest monthly: NHS England, . Data checked .
What the wait includes
The wait covers the first ENT appointment and the wait for surgery, usually a day case or one night in hospital. Time before your GP referred you is not part of the figure.
Paying privately instead
Tonsillectomy: usually £3,050 to £4,100, guide price, checked October 2026. Sources
Paying could save around 30 weeks, at a typical cost of £3,550.
How to be treated sooner
Some independent hospitals carry out tonsillectomy for the NHS, mostly for adults. Check the ENT list for your area and ask your GP to refer you where the wait is shortest.
Questions people ask
How long is the NHS waiting list for tonsillectomy?
Waits are published for ear, nose and throat as a whole, not tonsillectomy alone. In August 2026, at a typical hospital most people on the waiting list had waited less than 38 weeks; the shortest was The Living Care Group, 2 weeks.
Is a child's tonsillectomy in these figures?
Sometimes. Where a paediatric ENT team treats the child, the wait may be counted under other paediatric services rather than ENT.
Is adenoid removal counted the same way?
Yes. Removing the adenoids, with or without the tonsils, is counted with the rest of ENT surgery at that hospital.