A health expert is urging NHS patients on waiting lists to ask five essential questions that could help speed up their care, as more than half of NHS Trusts have imposed minimum waiting periods of 12-16 weeks for routine elective procedures such as hip, knee, and cataract operations.
Recent performance figures show that just 65.8% of patients began non-urgent, consultant-led treatment within 18 weeks as of June 2026, according to research from the Nuffield Trust, falling well short of the 92% operational standard. Further statistics from NHS England indicate that in specialisms with the longest backlogs, almost half of patients are waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment to commence.
Patients Unaware of Their Rights
Mark Noble, CEO at health insurance intermediary Usay Compare, has compiled a list of potential questions patients could ask when faced with a delay. He said: "Lengthy waiting lists for NHS patients are common, but many patients don't realise that wait times fluctuate between different trusts. Asking for a change could see a huge reduction in waiting times for some people."
He added: "Many patients are unaware that they are well within their rights to ask if there may be other options when it comes to where they receive treatment. Waiting times can vary significantly between hospitals and treatment centres, so it's worth asking whether there are alternative providers available through the NHS."
Five Questions to Ask
Noble suggested that travelling for treatment might not be feasible for everyone, but some people are willing to travel to save on waiting time. He noted that exploring all available routes could help patients access consultations, scans, or procedures sooner and reduce the time spent living with symptoms.
The potential questions patients could ask include:
- "Are there any other NHS hospitals or treatment centres with shorter waiting times for my procedure?"
- "Are there any NHS-funded independent hospitals that offer this treatment sooner?"
- "Can I see waiting-time information for alternative providers before deciding?"
- "If I'm expected to wait beyond 18 weeks, what alternative options are available?"
- "Would travelling to another hospital reduce my waiting time?"
NHS waiting times are long because demand for healthcare has consistently outpaced hospital capacity for over a decade, creating a gridlocked system. An ageing population is living longer with multiple complex, chronic health conditions, which require continuous medical management and increase overall pressure on services.
