GeraClinic / NHS waiting times / Best regions / Ear Nose and Throat Service
Best NHS Regions for Ear Nose and Throat Service
In April 2026, North West has the shortest NHS wait for Ear Nose and Throat Service β median 12.6 weeks. All 7 NHS England regions ranked below by Gera Regional Treatment Rank (GRTR). Nationally, 589,187 patients are waiting.
Which NHS region has the shortest wait for Ear Nose and Throat Service in England?
As of April 2026, the North West Commissioning Region has the shortest NHS waiting time for Ear Nose and Throat Service with a median of 12.6 weeks and 62.9% seen within 18 weeks (Gera GRTR rank 1 of 7 regions). Source: NHS England RTT Commissioner, April 2026.
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Shortest wait for Ear Nose and Throat Service
North West β median 12.6 weeks, 62.9% within 18 weeks (79,337 waiting)
| Rank | NHS Region | Median wait | Within 18 wks | Waiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | North West | 12.6 weeks | 62.9% | 79,337 |
| 2nd | North East and Yorkshire | 12.8 weeks | 62.1% | 81,040 |
| 3rd | South West | 13.2 weeks | 61.9% | 45,635 |
| 4th | South East | 13.6 weeks | 60.0% | 87,365 |
| 5th | London | 14.4 weeks | 57.7% | 90,526 |
| 6th | Midlands | 15.4 weeks | 54.6% | 116,976 |
| 7th | East of England | 16.4 weeks | 52.3% | 84,126 |
The regional spread for Ear Nose and Throat Service is 3.8 weeks β the difference in median wait between North West (best) and East of England (longest), April 2026. This is the gap a patient could potentially close by discussing referral options with their GP.
Even in the best region (North West), only 62.9% of Ear Nose and Throat Service patients are seen within 18 weeks β below the NHS 92% standard. A GeraClinic private consultation can usually happen within days.
Book a private consultationGera Regional Treatment Rank (GRTR) β rank 1 = shortest median wait. Source: NHS England RTT Incomplete Commissioner data, April 2026. OGL v3.0. Methodology.
Ear Nose and Throat Service: all NHS regions ranked by wait (April 2026)
| GRTR rank | NHS Region | Patients waiting | Within 18 weeks | Median wait | Over 52 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | North West | 79,337 | 62.9% | 12.6 weeks | 1,168 |
| 2nd | North East and Yorkshire | 81,040 | 62.1% | 12.8 weeks | 1,240 |
| 3rd | South West | 45,635 | 61.9% | 13.2 weeks | 496 |
| 4th | South East | 87,365 | 60.0% | 13.6 weeks | 1,766 |
| 5th | London | 90,526 | 57.7% | 14.4 weeks | 1,874 |
| 6th | Midlands | 116,976 | 54.6% | 15.4 weeks | 2,316 |
| 7th | East of England | 84,126 | 52.3% | 16.4 weeks | 3,863 |
| National | England (all regions) | 589,187 | 58.3% | 14.1 weeks | 12,785 |
Regional spread: 3.8 weeks difference between North West (12.6 weeks, best) and East of England (16.4 weeks, longest) for Ear Nose and Throat Service, April 2026. GRTR rank 1 = shortest median wait. Figures: NHS England RTT Commissioner basis.
Don't want to wait for Ear Nose and Throat Service?
The national median NHS wait for Ear Nose and Throat Service is 14.1 weeks. A private GeraClinic consultation can usually happen within days β and you keep your NHS place.
Frequently asked questions
- Which NHS region has the shortest waiting time for Ear Nose and Throat Service in England?
- As of April 2026, the North West Commissioning Region has the shortest NHS waiting time for Ear Nose and Throat Service at a median of 12.6 weeks, with 62.9% of patients seen within 18 weeks (Gera Regional Treatment Rank 1 of 7). Source: NHS England RTT, April 2026.
- Which NHS region has the longest waiting time for Ear Nose and Throat Service?
- As of April 2026, the East of England Commissioning Region has the longest NHS waiting time for Ear Nose and Throat Service at a median of 16.4 weeks β 3.8 weeks longer than the best-performing region (North West). 52.3% of patients in that region are seen within 18 weeks. Source: NHS England RTT, April 2026.
- How many patients are waiting for Ear Nose and Throat Service across England?
- Nationally, 589,187 patients in England were waiting to start Ear Nose and Throat Service treatment as of April 2026. The overall national median wait was 14.1 weeks, and 58.3% were seen within 18 weeks. 12,785 patients had been waiting more than 52 weeks. Source: NHS England RTT (national), April 2026.
- What is the Gera Regional Treatment Rank (GRTR) for Ear Nose and Throat Service?
- The Gera Regional Treatment Rank (GRTR) ranks each of the 7 NHS England commissioning regions for a given specialty by median waiting time in ascending order: rank 1 = shortest wait (best access), rank 7 = longest wait. For Ear Nose and Throat Service as of April 2026, North West holds rank 1 (median 12.6 weeks) and East of England holds the last position (median 16.4 weeks). The GRTR is computed from official NHS England RTT Incomplete Commissioner data, refreshed monthly. Methodology: geraclinic.com/nhs-waiting-times/best-regions/methodology.
- Can I avoid the NHS Ear Nose and Throat Service waiting list by seeing a private doctor?
- Many patients choose a private consultation to shorten the wait. A private specialist can usually see you within days rather than the 14.1 weeks national median NHS wait for Ear Nose and Throat Service. They can arrange investigations, provide a second opinion, or make an onward referral β and you keep your NHS place. GeraClinic connects you with consultant-level doctors for an online consultation.
Best NHS regions for other specialties
Methodology β Gera Regional Treatment Rank (GRTR)
The Gera Regional Treatment Rank (GRTR) ranks each of the 7 NHS England commissioning regions for a given specialty (treatment function) by median waiting time in ascending order: rank 1 = shortest median wait (best access). Ranks are derived exclusively from the official NHS England βIncomplete Commissionerβ RTT data file for April 2026 (Commissioner basis, regional sheet). Median waiting time is the band where the cumulative distribution of patients crosses 50% (linear-interpolated by NHS England in the source file). Regions for which the NHS file reports no median are excluded from the ranked set. Full methodology β
Contains public sector information published by NHS England and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS England β Consultant-led Referral to Treatment (RTT) Waiting Times (April 2026, published June 2026). Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. This directory is not affiliated with NHS England.
Informational/educational only β not a substitute for professional medical advice; a clinician interprets results.