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
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust waiting times
Latest NHS England figures for A&E, diagnostic tests and planned treatment at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, in the South East region, which serves Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes.
A&E
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
Month by month
| Month | Within 4 hours | Attendances | 12-hour waits (decision to admit) | England within 4 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 74.1% | 16,117 | 215 | 74.4% |
| August 2026 | 71.3% | 15,977 | 288 | 75.0% |
| July 2026 | 75.2% | 16,667 | 246 | 75.4% |
| June 2026 | 74.8% | 15,738 | 231 | 75.0% |
| May 2026 | 72.9% | 15,938 | 183 | 75.7% |
| April 2026 | 77.2% | 15,071 | 150 | 76.9% |
| March 2026 | 77.2% | 15,528 | 58 | 77.1% |
| February 2026 | 71.4% | 13,472 | 113 | 74.1% |
| January 2026 | 68.8% | 14,784 | 197 | 72.5% |
| December 2025 | 72.9% | 14,993 | 70 | 73.8% |
| November 2025 | 72.3% | 15,133 | 101 | 74.2% |
| October 2025 | 75.1% | 15,320 | 117 | 74.2% |
| September 2025 | 78.0% | 15,068 | 19 | 75.1% |
Diagnostic tests
| 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% |
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, 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
Other trusts in South East
| Trust | A&E within 4 hours | MRI under 6 weeks | RTT median weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isle of Wight NHS Trust | 80.1% | 100.0% | 11.9 |
| Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust | 80.1% | 100.0% | 13.5 |
| Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 79.5% | 88.1% | 13.3 |
| Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust | 77.6% | 78.0% | 13.5 |
| Medway NHS Foundation Trust | 75.6% | 98.5% | 14.8 |
| Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust | 75.3% | 83.7% | 13.2 |
| Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust | 74.9% | 99.0% | 11.5 |
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | 74.6% | 89.1% | 10.1 |
| Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust | 73.2% | 99.8% | 12.5 |
| East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust | 72.1% | 51.7% | 15.7 |
| Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust | 71.3% | 41.0% | 13.5 |
| University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust | 70.7% | 86.3% | 12.4 |
| Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 67.1% | 99.2% | 13.9 |
| Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 62.5% | 91.1% | 12.8 |
| University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | 60.6% | 92.5% | 16.9 |
| Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 52.1% | 73.9% | 12.6 |
Towns served
Frequently asked questions
What are A&E waiting times like at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust?
In September 2026, 74.1% 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 East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust?
55,478 people were waiting to start consultant-led treatment at the end of August 2026, with a median wait of 11.3 weeks. 338 had waited over a year.
How long is the MRI wait at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust?
93.6% of the 2,030 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.