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
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust waiting times
Latest NHS England figures for A&E, diagnostic tests and planned treatment at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, in the South West region.
A&E
In September 2026, 69.7% of the 28,667 people attending A&E at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours. That is 4.7 points below the England average of 74.4% and 2.1 points below the South West average of 71.8%. It ranks 78 of 120 trusts with a major A&E in England and 6 of 12 in South West (1 = highest share within 4 hours). At the main emergency department (type 1), 67.8% spent 4 hours or less, against 60.6% across England. 8,626 patients were admitted as emergencies through A&E, and 620 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 66.2% (March 2026) to 71.9% (August 2026); it is unchanged since September 2025.
Bristol: % within 4 hours of arrival England
Month by month
| Month | Within 4 hours | Attendances | 12-hour waits (decision to admit) | England within 4 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 69.7% | 28,667 | 620 | 74.4% |
| August 2026 | 71.9% | 27,210 | 481 | 75.0% |
| July 2026 | 68.2% | 29,125 | 682 | 75.4% |
| June 2026 | 70.0% | 18,751 | 498 | 75.0% |
| May 2026 | 70.5% | 19,091 | 286 | 75.7% |
| April 2026 | 70.8% | 18,233 | 371 | 76.9% |
| March 2026 | 66.2% | 19,464 | 529 | 77.1% |
| February 2026 | 67.4% | 16,545 | 440 | 74.1% |
| January 2026 | 66.3% | 18,376 | 793 | 72.5% |
| December 2025 | 66.6% | 18,318 | 496 | 73.8% |
| November 2025 | 66.5% | 18,932 | 243 | 74.2% |
| October 2025 | 66.6% | 19,238 | 562 | 74.2% |
| September 2025 | 69.7% | 17,943 | 213 | 75.1% |
Diagnostic tests
| Test | Waiting list | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting 13+ weeks | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI | 6,455 | 92.0% | 60 | 78.0% |
| CT | 3,552 | 94.5% | 3 | 88.8% |
| Ultrasound | 9,556 | 89.9% | 2 | 78.3% |
| Endoscopy | 2,339 | 92.3% | 10 | 69.6% |
MRI: % waiting under 6 weeks England
CT: % waiting under 6 weeks England
Ultrasound: % waiting under 6 weeks England
Endoscopy: % waiting under 6 weeks England
Planned treatment (referral to treatment)
At the end of August 2026, 96,608 people were waiting to start consultant-led treatment at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. Half had waited less than 11.1 weeks (England: 12.2 weeks) and 69.1% had waited under 18 weeks, 3.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other - Surgicals | 10,363 | 9.1 | 75.2% | 78 | 11.4 |
| Gynaecology | 10,227 | 13.7 | 61.1% | 45 | 14.2 |
| Other - Paediatrics | 9,471 | 14.9 | 58.0% | 289 | 12.3 |
| Other - Medicals | 9,142 | 9.2 | 76.0% | 4 | 10.7 |
| Trauma and Orthopaedic | 8,550 | 13.8 | 62.4% | 76 | 13.9 |
| Ophthalmology | 7,138 | 8.8 | 75.9% | 0 | 10.4 |
| Cardiology | 6,726 | 13.9 | 59.8% | 0 | 11.9 |
| Dermatology | 5,564 | 7.3 | 81.1% | 1 | 10.5 |
Bristol: median RTT wait (weeks) England
Other trusts in South West
| Trust | A&E within 4 hours | MRI under 6 weeks | RTT median weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 78.6% | 97.4% | 14.1 |
| Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust | 75.5% | 94.7% | 9.7 |
| University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | 71.8% | 97.7% | 12.4 |
| Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 71.7% | 86.0% | 12.0 |
| Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust | 71.5% | 81.7% | – |
| Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust | 66.5% | 76.0% | 11.7 |
| Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 65.6% | 100.0% | 15.0 |
| University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust | 65.6% | 72.8% | – |
| Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 62.9% | 57.8% | 12.7 |
| Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 61.8% | 81.0% | 10.9 |
| Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust | 56.7% | 94.6% | 11.6 |
Frequently asked questions
What are A&E waiting times like at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust?
In September 2026, 69.7% of A&E attendances were dealt with within 4 hours, against 74.4% across England and the 95% standard.
How long is the waiting list at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust?
96,608 people were waiting to start consultant-led treatment at the end of August 2026, with a median wait of 11.1 weeks. 525 had waited over a year.
How long is the MRI wait at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust?
92.0% of the 6,455 people on the MRI waiting list had waited under 6 weeks at the end of August 2026.
How often are these figures 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.