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
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust waiting times
Latest NHS England figures for A&E, diagnostic tests and planned treatment at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, in the South West region, which serves Truro, Falmouth, Penzance, Newquay.
A&E
In September 2026, 75.5% of the 19,689 people attending A&E at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours. That is 1.1 points above the England average of 74.4% and 3.7 points above the South West average of 71.8%. It ranks 36 of 120 trusts with a major A&E in England and 2 of 12 in South West (1 = highest share within 4 hours). At the main emergency department (type 1), 47.2% spent 4 hours or less, against 60.6% across England. 2,529 patients were admitted as emergencies through A&E, and 497 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 74.5% (February 2026) to 82.0% (September 2025); it is down 6.5 points since September 2025.
Royal Cornwall 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 | 75.5% | 19,689 | 497 | 74.4% |
| August 2026 | 75.4% | 22,446 | 571 | 75.0% |
| July 2026 | 75.0% | 23,243 | 573 | 75.4% |
| June 2026 | 74.8% | 21,080 | 620 | 75.0% |
| May 2026 | 75.7% | 21,023 | 653 | 75.7% |
| April 2026 | 78.7% | 19,038 | 581 | 76.9% |
| March 2026 | 79.6% | 19,564 | 467 | 77.1% |
| February 2026 | 74.5% | 16,225 | 529 | 74.1% |
| January 2026 | 74.8% | 17,447 | 773 | 72.5% |
| December 2025 | 77.8% | 17,162 | 581 | 73.8% |
| November 2025 | 80.5% | 16,740 | 599 | 74.2% |
| October 2025 | 80.2% | 18,281 | 626 | 74.2% |
| September 2025 | 82.0% | 18,460 | 545 | 75.1% |
Diagnostic tests
| Test | Waiting list | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting 13+ weeks | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI | 2,092 | 94.7% | 17 | 78.0% |
| CT | 1,160 | 99.3% | 1 | 88.8% |
| Ultrasound | 1,961 | 98.6% | 3 | 78.3% |
| Endoscopy | 850 | 84.8% | 3 | 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, 45,002 people were waiting to start consultant-led treatment at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. Half had waited less than 9.7 weeks (England: 12.2 weeks) and 73.1% had waited under 18 weeks, 7.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trauma and Orthopaedic | 5,637 | 18.0 | 50.1% | 361 | 13.9 |
| Other - Medicals | 5,365 | 7.6 | 88.4% | 2 | 10.7 |
| Dermatology | 4,396 | 6.8 | 82.2% | 0 | 10.5 |
| Ophthalmology | 4,117 | 8.0 | 80.2% | 4 | 10.4 |
| Gynaecology | 3,608 | 13.5 | 61.5% | 18 | 14.2 |
| Ear Nose and Throat | 3,385 | 10.8 | 74.5% | 5 | 15.4 |
| Other - Surgicals | 3,258 | 8.2 | 75.2% | 15 | 11.4 |
| Cardiology | 2,469 | 12.7 | 63.3% | 8 | 11.9 |
Royal Cornwall Hospitals: 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 |
| 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% | – |
| Bristol NHS Foundation Trust | 69.7% | 92.0% | 11.1 |
| 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 |
Towns served
Frequently asked questions
What are A&E waiting times like at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust?
In September 2026, 75.5% 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 Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust?
45,002 people were waiting to start consultant-led treatment at the end of August 2026, with a median wait of 9.7 weeks. 446 had waited over a year.
How long is the MRI wait at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust?
94.7% of the 2,092 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.