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 Sunderland
Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, is served mainly by South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation 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 North East and Yorkshire region and England.
A&E waiting times in Sunderland
In September 2026, 74.7% of the 21,549 people attending A&E at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours. That is 0.3 points above the England average of 74.4% and 0.5 points below the North East and Yorkshire average of 75.2%. It ranks 46 of 120 trusts with a major A&E in England and 11 of 22 in North East and Yorkshire (1 = highest share within 4 hours). At the main emergency department (type 1), 59.4% spent 4 hours or less, against 60.6% across England. 4,967 patients were admitted as emergencies through A&E, and 2 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 66.5% (January 2026) to 78.9% (August 2026); it is up 2.0 points since September 2025.
South Tyneside and Sunderland: % within 4 hours of arrival England
Full A&E page for Sunderland: 13-month history, nearby A&E departments and what to do if it is not an emergency.
Scan and test waiting times in Sunderland
| Test | Waiting list | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting 13+ weeks | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI | 1,167 | 77.6% | 29 | 78.0% |
| CT | 897 | 78.0% | 71 | 88.8% |
| Ultrasound | 5,766 | 75.1% | 21 | 78.3% |
| Endoscopy | 1,068 | 62.6% | 132 | 69.6% |
Detailed pages: MRI waiting times in Sunderland · CT waiting times in Sunderland · Ultrasound waiting times in Sunderland · Endoscopy waiting times in Sunderland.
Waiting times for planned hospital treatment
At the end of August 2026, 61,738 people were waiting to start consultant-led treatment at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust. Half had waited less than 9.6 weeks (England: 12.2 weeks) and 74.9% had waited under 18 weeks, 9.7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ophthalmology | 9,353 | 10.0 | 75.4% | 0 | 10.4 |
| Trauma and Orthopaedic | 8,783 | 15.6 | 55.4% | 0 | 13.9 |
| Urology | 6,466 | 12.3 | 64.2% | 0 | 12.2 |
| Ear Nose and Throat | 5,138 | 9.0 | 81.9% | 0 | 15.4 |
| Oral Surgery | 5,032 | 11.7 | 68.9% | 0 | 16.4 |
| General Surgery | 4,766 | 7.2 | 84.1% | 0 | 12.8 |
| Other - Others | 4,027 | 3.9 | 94.1% | 0 | 8.7 |
| Gynaecology | 3,534 | 9.6 | 79.6% | 0 | 14.2 |
South Tyneside and Sunderland: median RTT wait (weeks) England
ADHD and autism assessment waits in the local ICB area
ADHD: in June 2026 there were 63,935 open referrals that may be for an ADHD assessment in NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board. 41,040 (64.2%) had been open for a year or more, compared with 57.8% across England. 41,875 had no first contact recorded yet. ADHD waits by area.
Autism: in June 2026, 27,955 people had an open suspected autism referral in this ICB area, and 24,995 (89.4%) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gateshead | 9 miles | Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust | 77.2% |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 10 miles | The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 76.2% |
| Scarborough | 59 miles | York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 61.8% |
| Harrogate | 64 miles | Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust | 72.1% |
| York | 67 miles | York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 61.8% |
| Leeds | 77 miles | Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | 75.7% |
| Bradford | 78 miles | Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 82.1% |
| Burnley | 85 miles | East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust | 75.6% |
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 Sunderland?
In September 2026, 74.7% of A&E attendances at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust were dealt with within 4 hours, against 74.4% across England. 2 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 Sunderland?
At the end of August 2026, 77.6% of the 1,167 people waiting for an MRI at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks (England 78.0%).
How long is the wait for hospital treatment in Sunderland?
The median wait for consultant-led treatment at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust was 9.6 weeks at the end of August 2026, and 74.9% of patients had waited under 18 weeks.
Which NHS trust serves Sunderland?
Sunderland is mapped to South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation 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.