A&E data for September 2026, published 8 October 2026 · Diagnostics (DM01) data for August 2026, published 8 October 2026 · Referral to treatment (RTT) data for August 2026, published 8 October 2026
NHS waiting times in Eastbourne
Eastbourne, East Sussex, is served mainly by East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. This page brings together the latest published NHS England figures for A&E, scans and tests, and planned hospital treatment at that trust, with trends and comparisons against the South East region and England.
A&E waiting times in Eastbourne
In September 2026, 74.1% of the 16,117 people attending A&E at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours. That is 0.3 points below the England average of 74.4% and 2.1 points below the South East average of 76.2%. It ranks 51 of 120 trusts with a major A&E in England and 9 of 17 in South East (1 = highest share within 4 hours). At the main emergency department (type 1), 66.7% spent 4 hours or less, against 60.6% across England. 2,463 patients were admitted as emergencies through A&E, and 215 waited more than 12 hours from the decision to admit them to being admitted.
Over the last 13 months the 4-hour figure has ranged from 68.8% (January 2026) to 78.0% (September 2025); it is down 3.9 points since September 2025.
East Sussex Healthcare: % within 4 hours of arrival England
Full A&E page for Eastbourne: 13-month history, nearby A&E departments and what to do if it is not an emergency.
Scan and test waiting times in Eastbourne
| Test | Waiting list | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting 13+ weeks | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI | 2,030 | 93.6% | 16 | 78.0% |
| CT | 1,336 | 99.6% | 0 | 88.8% |
| Ultrasound | 1,711 | 99.2% | 0 | 78.3% |
| Endoscopy | 759 | 96.8% | 8 | 69.6% |
Detailed pages: MRI waiting times in Eastbourne · CT waiting times in Eastbourne · Ultrasound waiting times in Eastbourne · Endoscopy waiting times in Eastbourne.
Waiting times for planned hospital treatment
At the end of August 2026, 55,478 people were waiting to start consultant-led treatment at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. Half had waited less than 11.3 weeks (England: 12.2 weeks) and 69.0% had waited under 18 weeks, 3.8 points above the England figure of 65.2%. The NHS constitution standard is 92% within 18 weeks.
| Specialty | Waiting | Median weeks | Under 18 weeks | Over 52 weeks | England median weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trauma and Orthopaedic | 10,207 | 9.5 | 77.9% | 78 | 13.9 |
| Ear Nose and Throat | 5,269 | 13.8 | 60.6% | 0 | 15.4 |
| Gynaecology | 5,205 | 16.1 | 54.8% | 115 | 14.2 |
| General Surgery | 4,714 | 10.9 | 73.0% | 26 | 12.8 |
| Urology | 4,534 | 15.8 | 54.7% | 76 | 12.2 |
| Cardiology | 4,189 | 13.0 | 64.9% | 13 | 11.9 |
| Other - Medicals | 3,897 | 12.1 | 64.7% | 7 | 10.7 |
| Ophthalmology | 3,716 | 8.8 | 79.7% | 1 | 10.4 |
East Sussex Healthcare: median RTT wait (weeks) England
ADHD and autism assessment waits in the local ICB area
ADHD: in June 2026 there were 63,640 open referrals that may be for an ADHD assessment in NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board. 41,730 (65.6%) had been open for a year or more, compared with 57.8% across England. 49,265 had no first contact recorded yet. ADHD waits by area.
Autism: in June 2026, 18,375 people had an open suspected autism referral in this ICB area, and 16,140 (87.8%) had been waiting at least 13 weeks (England 86.8%). Autism waits by area.
Nearby towns
A&E performance at the main trust for the nearest towns on this site.
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | Within 4 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewes | 14 miles | University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | 60.6% |
| Hastings | 14 miles | East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 74.1% |
| Brighton | 19 miles | University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | 60.6% |
| Worthing | 29 miles | University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | 60.6% |
| Crawley | 31 miles | Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 52.1% |
| Maidstone | 36 miles | Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust | 74.9% |
| Ashford | 37 miles | East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust | 72.1% |
| Croydon | 45 miles | Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | 72.4% |
What these figures mean
The 4-hour A&E figure is the share of people who were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours of arriving. The NHS constitution standard is 95%. The diagnostics figures show how long people on the waiting list for a test had waited at the end of the month; the standard is that fewer than 1% wait 6 weeks or more. The referral to treatment (RTT) figures cover people waiting to start consultant-led treatment, against a standard of 92% within 18 weeks. These are averages for a whole trust and do not predict how long any one person will wait.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the A&E wait in Eastbourne?
In September 2026, 74.1% of A&E attendances at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust were dealt with within 4 hours, against 74.4% across England. 215 patients waited more than 12 hours from decision to admit. Actual waits depend on how urgent your condition is.
How long is the wait for an MRI scan in Eastbourne?
At the end of August 2026, 93.6% of the 2,030 people waiting for an MRI at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust had waited under 6 weeks (England 78.0%).
How long is the wait for hospital treatment in Eastbourne?
The median wait for consultant-led treatment at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust was 11.3 weeks at the end of August 2026, and 69.0% of patients had waited under 18 weeks.
Which NHS trust serves Eastbourne?
Eastbourne is mapped to East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust on this site, based on the nearest major hospitals. Some patients may be treated by other trusts depending on where they live and are referred.
How often are these waiting times updated?
NHS England publishes A&E, diagnostics (DM01) and referral to treatment (RTT) statistics every month, usually on the second Thursday. A&E figures cover the previous month; diagnostics and RTT figures are a month further behind. This site refreshes when new files are published.