GeraClinic / NHS waiting times / By region / North West / Ophthalmology Service
Ophthalmology Service Waiting Times in North West
In April 2026, the median NHS wait for ophthalmology service in the North West Commissioning Region was 9.7 weeks, with 72.2% of 76,165 patients seen within 18 weeks (official NHS England RTT data).
How long is the NHS wait for ophthalmology service in North West?
As of April 2026, the median NHS wait for ophthalmology service in the North West Commissioning Region was 9.7 weeks, with 72.2% of 76,165 patients seen within 18 weeks β the same as the England median of 9.7 weeks. North West ranks 4th of 7 NHS England regions for this specialty. Source: NHS England RTT (Commissioner), April 2026. Gera re-dates this monthly.
North West vs England β ophthalmology service (April 2026)
| Area | Patients waiting | Within 18 weeks | Median wait | Over 52 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North West (ophthalmology service) | 76,165 | 72.2% | 9.7 weeks | 562 |
| England (all regions, ophthalmology service) | 612,588 | 73.1% | 9.7 weeks | 4,560 |
| Shortest wait region β North East and Yorkshire | β | β | 8.5 weeks | β |
The North West median for ophthalmology service (9.7 weeks) is the same as the England median (9.7 weeks). North West ranks 4th of 7 NHS England regions for this specialty by median wait. Figures are official NHS England RTT statistics (Commissioner basis), April 2026.
Don't want to wait for ophthalmology service in North West?
The median NHS wait for ophthalmology service in North West is 9.7 weeks. A private GeraClinic consultation can usually happen within days β and you keep your NHS place.
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the NHS wait for Ophthalmology Service in North West?
- In April 2026, the median NHS wait for Ophthalmology Service in the North West Commissioning Region was 9.7 weeks, with 72.2% of 76,165 patients seen within 18 weeks. That is 4th fastest of 7 NHS England regions for this specialty. Figures are official NHS England Referral to Treatment (RTT) statistics (Commissioner basis), April 2026.
- How many patients are waiting for Ophthalmology Service in North West?
- 76,165 patients in the North West Commissioning Region were on an incomplete (open) NHS pathway for Ophthalmology Service in April 2026. Of those, 21,138 had been waiting longer than the NHS 18-week standard, and 562 had been waiting more than a year.
- Is the wait for Ophthalmology Service in North West longer or shorter than the England average?
- The North West median wait for Ophthalmology Service (9.7 weeks) is the same as the England-wide median of 9.7 weeks for the same specialty in April 2026. Nationally, 612,588 patients are waiting for Ophthalmology Service, with 73.1% seen within 18 weeks.
- Which NHS region has the shortest wait for Ophthalmology Service?
- In April 2026, the North East and Yorkshire Commissioning Region had the shortest median NHS wait for Ophthalmology Service at 8.5 weeks, while the East of England Commissioning Region was longest at 10.4 weeks. North West ranks 4th of 7. Compare every region on the best-regions page for this specialty.
- Can I avoid the NHS wait for Ophthalmology Service in North West?
- Many patients shorten a 9.7 weeks median wait by arranging a private consultation. A private specialist can usually see you within days, and you keep your NHS place while you do. GeraClinic connects you with consultant-level doctors for an online consultation β useful for a second opinion, referral advice or starting treatment sooner.
Compare ophthalmology service waits elsewhere
- Ophthalmology Service β all 7 NHS regions ranked by wait β see which region is fastest and slowest.
- Ophthalmology Service β national England figures
- All NHS waiting times in North West β every specialty in this region.
Other specialties in North West
- Oral Surgery Service β 15.8 weeks
- Plastic Surgery Service β 15.5 weeks
- Neurology Service β 15.1 weeks
- Gynaecology Service β 14.1 weeks
- General Surgery Service β 13.3 weeks
- Trauma and Orthopaedic Service β 13.0 weeks
- Ear Nose and Throat Service β 12.6 weeks
- Dermatology Service β 12.6 weeks
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Service β 12.6 weeks
- Urology Service β 12.0 weeks
- Gastroenterology Service β 11.9 weeks
- Cardiology Service β 11.8 weeks
Long ophthalmology service wait in North West? Find rated providers in your region
The median NHS wait for ophthalmology service in North West is 9.7 weeks. Check CQC-registered care providers and GP practices covering your region β official Care Quality Commission records β to see who is available near you.
- CQC-registered care providers in North West β 865 registered locations
- GP practices by CQC rating in North West β 952 rated GP practices
Provider counts are exact figures from official Care Quality Commission records. Open Government Licence v3.0.
Methodology & source
Every figure on this page is taken directly from the per-region, per-treatment-function summary columns of NHS England's official βIncomplete Commissionerβ RTT data file for April 2026(region sheet): total incomplete pathways, total within 18 weeks, % within 18 weeks, median (average) waiting time, and total 52+ weeks for Ophthalmology Service in the North West Commissioning Region. England-wide figures for the same specialty come from the NHS England RTT provider full extract. The Gera Regional Treatment Rank (GRTR) ranks the 7 regions with published medians for this specialty by ascending median wait (rank 1 = shortest). No estimates or survey data are mixed in; the page re-computes on the real NHS monthly cadence.
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.
More GeraClinic data
Free, official health and care data β each built to be cited.
- Clinics & GP surgery directoryEvery CQC-registered GP surgery, dental practice and clinic by region.
- Open health datasetsFree, citable NHS and CQC datasets with machine-readable JSON downloads.
- Life expectancy by areaMale, female and healthy life expectancy for every UK local area, from ONS data.
- Care home directoryCQC-registered residential and nursing homes by county and area.
- Medication costsWhat common medicines cost and where cheaper alternatives exist.
Informational/educational only β not a substitute for professional medical advice; a clinician interprets results.