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Waiting times for surgery

Waiting times for surgical procedures depend on the type of treatment you are waiting for and your individual needs.

NHS hospitals and the independent (private) sector hospitals are working together to increase the number of people who can be treated daily. However, due to the number of procedures that need to be carried out you may have to wait longer than would usually be expected.

The number of people on our waiting lists change daily, therefore it is very hard to tell you exactly how long you will have to wait. We work very hard to keep you up to date on this and to give you an indication of how long you may have to wait for your planned procedure.

For information on how to prepare yourself your surgery, visit the Suffolk and North East Essex web site.

You can look up the current expected waiting time for the surgical procedure in the table below.

This information was last updated: 15 January 2024

Specialty/Procedure	Wait Time (in weeks)	Explanation of procedure
Breast Surgery
Exchange for permanent Implant	3
Implant exchange +/- capsulectomy	6
Revision Mastectomy Scar	13	Reduce the appearance & impact of the mastectomy scar.
Colorectal Surgery
(EUA) Examination Under Anaesthetic	61
Haemorrhoidectomy	35	Surgery to remove Internal or External Haemorrhoids.
Laying open of low anal fistula	60
Reversal of Hartmann's procedure	43
Dermatology
Excision biopsy	20	Remove by Excision an area of tissue for closer examination.
Excision Lesion of Skin	27	Removal of a skin lesion by completely cutting it out.
Ear, nose and throat (ENT)
Adenoidectomy	67	Removal of adenoids - small lumps of tissue at the back of the nose, above the roof of the mouth
Atticotomy	40
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) + Ear - EUA	65	A test to see how well sound moves from the hearing nerve to the brainstem. It is used to check for hearing loss.
Bony Meatoplasty	68	A procedure to widen the opening of the ear canal.
Closure of Perforation of Septum of Nose	39
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery	61	Opening the sinuses more widely into the nasal cavity
Excision lesion of cheek	64	Removal of a skin lesion by completely cutting it out.
Grommets / T-Tube	31	Insertion/Removal of grommet or T-Tube
Microlaryngoscopy	31	Examination of the larynx under a general anaesthetic.
Myringoplasty	56	Repair of a perforation of the eardrum.
Parotidectomy	23	Removal of the Parotid gland.
Partial excision parotid gland	52
Pinnaplasty	60	Ear Pinning.
Septoplasty of Nose	62	Straightening of the nasal septum.
Septorhinoplasty	61	Straightening of the nasal septum and reshaping the outside parts of the nose.
Stapling Pharyngeal Pouch	58
Tonsillectomy	56	Surgical removal of Tonsils.
Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy (removal of tonsils and adenoids)	39	Surgical removal of Tonsils and Adenoids.
Total Thyroidectomy	56	Surgical removal of all of the Thyroid Gland.
Turbinoplasty	63	Reshape the Turbinates.
Tympanoplasty	34	Repair or reconstruct the eardrum (Tympanic Membrane).
General Surgery
Excision Pilonidal Sinus + Suture (Bascoms)	27
Haemorrhoidectomy	67	Surgery to remove Internal or External Haemorrhoids.
Hernia Repair	41
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy	49	Laparoscopic Removal of the Gallbladder
Para-Umbilical Hernia Repair	45
Rectum - E.U.A	37	Examination under anaesthetic of the rectum.
Gynaecology
Abdominal Hysterectomy	14	Partial or Total removal of the uterus through an incision in the lower abdomen.
Anterior and Posterior Colporrhaphy	86	Anterior and posterior vagina wall repair.
AnteriorColporrhaphy /Repair	86	Posterior vaginal repair.
Bilateral Salpingoohroectomy (BSO)	57	Surgical removal of bilateral overies and fillopian tubes.
Burch colposuspension	87	Support the bladder neck.
Endometrial Ablation	19	A procedure to destroy the lining of the uterus.
Hysteroscopy + Endometrial Biopsy	35	Examination of the inside of the uterus (womb) + removal of a sample of lining.
Hysteroscopy + Polypectomy	33	Examination of the inside of the uterus (womb) + removal of small lumps, such as fibroids and polyps.
Laparoscopic Adhesiolysis Ovary	59	Breaking down or seperation of adhesions (Scar Tissue)
Laparoscopic Excision Endometriosis	13	Laparoscopic removal of or destroy Endometriotic tissue in the pelvis.
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy	60	Laparoscopic removal of the uterus.
Laparoscopic Sterilisation	28	Laparoscopically put clips onto fallopian tubes.
Laparoscopic Unilateral Salpingoophorectomy	52	Laparoscopic removal of one ovary and fallopian tube.
Laparoscopy Diagnostic	31	Laparoscopic examination inside the abdomen.
Marsupialisation lesion vulva	59
Marsupialization Bartholins Cyst	13
Ovarian Cystectomy	35	Surgical removal of cyst from ovary.
Vaginal Hysterectomy	75	Surgical removal of the Uterus through the vagina.
Ophthalmology
Bilateral recession of lateral recti muscles of eyes	20
Blepharoplasty upper Eyelid - unilateral	44	Surgery to preserve binocular vision and stereopsis and to prevent its further loss.
Blepharoplasty upper Eyelid - bilateral	25	Surgery to preserve binocular vision and stereopsis and to prevent its further loss.
Cataract Surgery	28	Cataract extraction and intraocular lens implant inserted.
Cauterisation including cryotherapy to conjunctival lesion	29	Procedure to remove a conjunctival lesion by cauterisation (heat treatment) or cryotherapy (liquid Nitrogen).
Collagen Cross Linking	33	Treatment to prevent the progression of keratoconus.
Correction of ptosis of eyelid using aponeurosis technique	38	Corrective surgery to elevate the eyelid.
Dacryocystorhinostomy and Insertion Stent	24	Surgical procedure to unblock tear ducts and insert temporary silicone stents.
Endoscopic Dacryocysto-rhinostomy	51	Endoscopic surgery to unblock tear ducts.
Endothelial Keratoplasty	50	Cornea graft surgery to replace the inside layer of the cornea with the inside layer from a donor cornea.
Inferior Oblique Anterior Transposition	15	Surgical procedure to weaken the inferior oblique muscle and decrease dissociated vertical deviation.
Intravitreal Implant	2	Ophthalmic Intravitreal injection.
Penetrating keratoplasty	60	Cornea graft surgery - (full thickness transplant).
Paediatric, Trauma and Orthopaedics
Calcaneal osteotomy	36	Surgical procedure to reposition the heel back in line with the lower leg.
Excision of Bone	72	Surgery to excise bone.
Fixation of epiphysis	14	Surgery to stabilise the epiphysis (tip of a long bone) by fixation.
Plastic Surgery
Excision of lipoma	72	Removal of lipoma by excision.
Excision of Lump/lesion/cyst	63	Removal of Lump/Lesion/Cyst by excision.
Trauma and Orthopaedics
Achilles Tendon Lengthening	60	Surgical procedure to make the Achilles tendon longer.
Amputation of toe/toes	26	Surgical removal of toe/toes.
Ankle Arthroscopy	60	Keyhole surgery to examine or repair your ankle joint.
Ankle Ligament Reconstruction	60	Surgery to reconstruct damaged ligaments on the outside of your ankle.
Anterior cruciate ligament Repair	40	Surgery to replace your torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Arthroscopic meniscectomy	27	Keyhole surgery to examine or repair the meniscus.
Arthroscopic Sub-acromial decompression	66	Keyhole procedure to enlarge the space under the arch, to prevent the pinching and rubbing of the tendons.
Arthroscopy of Knee	37	Keyhole surgery to examine or repair the knee joints.
Bunionectomy	33	Surgery to remove the bunion from around the toe joint.
Carpal Tunnel Decompression	31	Surgery to release pressure on the median nerve at the wrist.
Cheilectomy	51	Surgery to remove a bony lump on the top of the main joint of the big toe.
Excision of Bone	57	Surgery to excise bone.
Excision of bursa	38	Surgery to excise or surgically remove the bursa.
Excision of ganglion	48	Surgery to excise or surgically remove the ganglion cyst from near a joint or tendon.
Excision Olecranon Bursa	43	Surgery to excise or surgically remove the olecranon bursa.
Fasciectomy	53	Surgical release of the finger.
Flexor tenolysis	67	Surgical procedure to repair the flexor tendon.
Fusion 1ST MTPJ	63	Surgical procedure to irreversibly stiffen the joint at the base of the big toe while removing any bony lumps and correcting a deformity.
Hallux Valgus Correction	65	Surgical correction of a deformity of the big toe.
Hip Replacement	57	Surgical procedure to replace the hip joint.
Injection (s) into joints - Therapeutic	51
Knee Replacement	59	Surgical procedure to replace the weight-bearing surfaces of the knee joint.
ORIF Ankle	14	Open reduction and Internal fixation (ORIF) is a surgical procedure to stabilize and heal a broken bone.
Osteotomy high Tibial	21	Surgical procedure to alter the length or change the alignment of the bone.
Proximal Femoral Osteotomy	59	Surgical procedure to correct bony deformities.
Removal of metalwork	38
Revision knee replacement	47	Surgical removal of the previously inserted knee replacement and inserting a new replacement.
Revision of total Hip replacement	80	Surgical removal of one or both parts of a previously inserted total hip replacement and inserting a new replacement.
Shoulder Arthroscopy	43	Keyhole surgery for examining or repairing the shoulder joint.
Shoulder Replacement	43	Surgical procedure to replace the worn surfaces with a metal ball and plastic socket.
Tennis Elbow Release	68	Surgical procedure to release or remove damaged tissue in the elbow.
Trapeziumectomy	36	Surgical procedure removing the bone (trapezium) from the wrist that sits at the base of the thumb.
Trigger finger release	38	Surgical procedure releasing the affected sheath to allow the tendon inside it to move freely again.
Triple fusion - Subtalar, Calcaneocuboid, Talonavicular	49	Surgical procedure to fuse or stiffen three joints in the foot.
Ulna Nerve Decompression	45	Surgical procedure designed to explore the region around the elbow through which the ulnar nerve passes.
Unicondylar knee replacement	62	Surgery for a partial (unicondylar) knee replacement.
Urology
Circumcision	55	Surgical removal of the foreskin.
Excision of Hydrocele	32	Surgical procedure to remove or repair a fluid-filled sac surrounding the testicle.
Flexible Ureteroscopy and Laser	34	Procedure for the treatment and investigation of kidney stones, tumors, or obstructions.
Orchidectomy	63	Surgical procedure to remove a testicle.
Prepuceplasty	65	Surgical procedure to allow the foreskin to be pulled fully back from the end of the penis.
Radical nephrectomy	48	Surgical removal of the whole kidney, the ureter, the adrenal gland, local lymph nodes, and surrounding tissue.
Redo TURP	15	Redo Transurethral resection of the prostate - Surgical procedure that involves cutting away a section of the prostate.
Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumour	4	Surgical procedure to take a biopsy from or remove the bladder tumor.
Transurethral resection prostate	50	Surgical procedure that involves cutting away a section of the prostate.
Vasectomy	57	Surgical procedure to cut or seal the tubes that carry a man's sperm to permanently prevent pregnancy.
Vascular Surgery
Varicose Vein Surgery	63