Weight loss surgery waiting times on the NHS
The NHS waiting list for weight loss surgery is counted under general surgery: in August 2026, 9 in 10 people on it at a typical hospital had waited less than 35 weeks (NHS England). The figures below are for general surgery as a whole, which also covers hernias, gallbladders and bowel surgery, so they are a rough guide only.
Shortest waits for general surgery, August 2026
- Clementine Churchill Hospital 13 weeks most people Free on the NHS See this hospital
- Dorking Healthcare Limited (DHC) 13 weeks most people Free on the NHS See this hospital
- Independent Health Group 13 weeks most people Free on the NHS See this hospital
- KIMS Hospital (Newnham Court) 14 weeks most people Free on the NHS See this hospital
- Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre, St Mary's Portsmouth 16 weeks most people Free on the NHS See this hospital
- Huddersfield Private Hospital 17 weeks most people Free on the NHS See this hospital
- Nuffield Health Highgate Hospital 17 weeks most people Free on the NHS See this hospital
- Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - Gillingham 17 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
Most people are seen by a specialist weight management service before they are referred for surgery. The figure here counts from referral to a consultant-led service, so ask your team when your clock started.
How to be treated sooner
Only some hospitals offer weight loss surgery, so the choice is narrower than the general surgery list suggests. Ask your GP or weight management team which centres take NHS referrals.
Questions people ask
How long is the NHS waiting list for weight loss surgery?
Waits are published for general surgery as a whole, not weight loss surgery alone. In August 2026, at a typical hospital most people on the waiting list had waited less than 35 weeks; the shortest was Clementine Churchill Hospital, 13 weeks.
Is weight loss surgery free on the NHS?
It can be, for people who meet the NHS criteria, usually after a specialist weight management service. Your GP can tell you whether you qualify.
Are gastric band, bypass and sleeve waits different?
Not in the published figures. All three are counted in the same specialty at each hospital, so the figure is the same whichever operation you have.