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 Plymouth
Plymouth, Devon, is served mainly by University Hospitals Plymouth 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 West region and England.
A&E waiting times in Plymouth
In September 2026, 65.6% of the 17,453 people attending A&E at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours. That is 8.8 points below the England average of 74.4% and 6.2 points below the South West average of 71.8%. It ranks 100 of 120 trusts with a major A&E in England and 9 of 12 in South West (1 = highest share within 4 hours). At the main emergency department (type 1), 36.2% spent 4 hours or less, against 60.6% across England. 2,225 patients were admitted as emergencies through A&E, and 588 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 64.8% (August 2026) to 70.5% (November 2025); it is down 2.7 points since September 2025.
University Hospitals Plymouth: % within 4 hours of arrival England
Full A&E page for Plymouth: 13-month history, nearby A&E departments and what to do if it is not an emergency.
Scan and test waiting times in Plymouth
| Test | Waiting list | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting 13+ weeks | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI | 2,207 | 72.8% | 118 | 78.0% |
| CT | 2,346 | 69.3% | 95 | 88.8% |
| Ultrasound | 4,062 | 79.6% | 48 | 78.3% |
| Endoscopy | 1,345 | 72.9% | 37 | 69.6% |
Detailed pages: MRI waiting times in Plymouth · CT waiting times in Plymouth · Ultrasound waiting times in Plymouth · Endoscopy waiting times in Plymouth.
Waiting times for planned hospital treatment
NHS England’s referral to treatment (RTT) data for August 2026 has no figures for University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. The trust may not have submitted a return for the month; its next return will appear here automatically.
ADHD and autism assessment waits in the local ICB area
ADHD: in June 2026 there were 16,715 open referrals that may be for an ADHD assessment in NHS Devon Integrated Care Board. 12,055 (72.1%) had been open for a year or more, compared with 57.8% across England. 13,150 had no first contact recorded yet. ADHD waits by area.
Autism: in June 2026, 12,275 people had an open suspected autism referral in this ICB area, and 11,225 (91.4%) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torquay | 27 miles | Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust | 71.5% |
| Exeter | 36 miles | Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 62.9% |
| Truro | 41 miles | Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust | 75.5% |
| Newquay | 41 miles | Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust | 75.5% |
| Falmouth | 44 miles | Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust | 75.5% |
| Tiverton | 46 miles | Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 62.9% |
| Barnstaple | 48 miles | Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 62.9% |
| Taunton | 63 miles | Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 71.7% |
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 Plymouth?
In September 2026, 65.6% of A&E attendances at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust were dealt with within 4 hours, against 74.4% across England. 588 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 Plymouth?
At the end of August 2026, 72.8% of the 2,207 people waiting for an MRI at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust had waited under 6 weeks (England 78.0%).
Which NHS trust serves Plymouth?
Plymouth is mapped to University Hospitals Plymouth 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.