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

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust waiting times

Name: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust waiting times
Creator: NHS England
License: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Latest NHS England figures for A&E, diagnostic tests and planned treatment at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, in the North West region, which serves Preston.

A&E

73.0%of A&E attendances admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours (September 2026)

67.7%within 4 hours at the main (type 1) A&E

16,415A&E attendances in the month

425waited over 12 hours from decision to admit

In September 2026, 73.0% of the 16,415 people attending A&E at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours. That is 1.4 points below the England average of 74.4% and 1.2 points above the North West average of 71.8%. It ranks 57 of 120 trusts with a major A&E in England and 7 of 18 in North West (1 = highest share within 4 hours). At the main emergency department (type 1), 67.7% spent 4 hours or less, against 60.6% across England. 3,559 patients were admitted as emergencies through A&E, and 425 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 67.7% (January 2026) to 73.9% (July 2026); it is up 3.9 points since September 2025.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals: % 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	73.0%	16,415	425	74.4%
August 2026	72.6%	15,818	394	75.0%
July 2026	73.9%	16,670	312	75.4%
June 2026	73.2%	16,448	336	75.0%
May 2026	70.5%	16,570	403	75.7%
April 2026	71.3%	15,643	360	76.9%
March 2026	72.2%	15,630	368	77.1%
February 2026	67.7%	14,171	393	74.1%
January 2026	67.7%	15,544	523	72.5%
December 2025	71.2%	15,845	446	73.8%
November 2025	70.0%	16,032	471	74.2%
October 2025	71.2%	16,714	463	74.2%
September 2025	69.1%	15,455	465	75.1%

Diagnostic tests

Diagnostic waiting lists at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, end of August 2026
Test	Waiting list	Waiting under 6 weeks	Waiting 13+ weeks	England under 6 weeks
MRI	1,326	96.4%	0	78.0%
CT	948	85.5%	71	88.8%
Ultrasound	5,872	76.1%	319	78.3%
Endoscopy	527	83.1%	30	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)

14.2 wksmedian wait (England 12.2 weeks)

60.0%waiting under 18 weeks (England 65.2%)

62,317people waiting for consultant-led treatment

364waiting over 52 weeks

At the end of August 2026, 62,317 people were waiting to start consultant-led treatment at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Half had waited less than 14.2 weeks (England: 12.2 weeks) and 60.0% had waited under 18 weeks, 5.2 points below the England figure of 65.2%. The NHS constitution standard is 92% within 18 weeks.

Largest specialty waiting lists
Specialty	Waiting	Median weeks	Under 18 weeks	Over 52 weeks	England median weeks
Neurology	8,305	17.5	51.2%	5	13.2
Other - Surgicals	7,907	13.4	60.1%	228	11.4
Other - Medicals	6,211	14.6	61.7%	1	10.7
Oral Surgery	4,705	17.1	51.7%	47	16.4
Trauma and Orthopaedic	4,613	16.2	55.5%	23	13.9
Plastic Surgery	4,376	15.6	55.4%	15	14.0
Ophthalmology	3,649	9.2	78.8%	2	10.4
Neurosurgical	3,626	13.3	62.4%	0	13.4

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals: median RTT wait (weeks) England

Other trusts in North West

Trust	A&E within 4 hours	MRI under 6 weeks	RTT median weeks
Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust	85.9%	100.0%	12.4
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	76.0%	76.7%	14.5
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust	75.6%	100.0%	9.4
North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust	75.2%	99.3%	12.5
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust	73.5%	91.8%	10.8
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust	73.3%	86.2%	12.1
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust	71.7%	86.8%	12.8
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust	70.2%	99.4%	12.9
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust	70.0%	90.7%	15.5
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	69.0%	96.5%	13.6
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	66.7%	90.5%	12.9
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	65.2%	92.2%	10.6
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust	63.3%	98.6%	13.3
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust	61.8%	92.1%	11.4
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust	60.0%	100.0%	8.9
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust	53.4%	98.1%	12.0
East Cheshire NHS Trust	49.8%	74.1%	13.4

Towns served

Preston · A&E · MRI

Frequently asked questions

What are A&E waiting times like at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust?

In September 2026, 73.0% 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 Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust?

62,317 people were waiting to start consultant-led treatment at the end of August 2026, with a median wait of 14.2 weeks. 364 had waited over a year.

How long is the MRI wait at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust?

96.4% of the 1,326 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.