Diagnostics (DM01) data for August 2026, published 8 October 2026 · Scotland diagnostics data for June 2026, published 25 August 2026 · Wales diagnostics data for August 2026, published 22 October 2026 · Northern Ireland diagnostics data for Quarter ending June 2026, published 3 September 2026
Endoscopy waiting times
How long people are waiting for an endoscopy in England, by region and NHS trust, from NHS England’s diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026, plus Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Endoscopy here combines the four NHS England endoscopy tests: colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, cystoscopy and gastroscopy, where a thin camera is used to look inside the body.
At the end of August 2026, 197,640 people in England were waiting for an endoscopy. 69.6% had waited under 6 weeks, down 2.5 points since February 2026. The standard is that fewer than 1% wait 6 weeks or more.
How long people had waited
England trend
England: % waiting under 6 weeks for endoscopy
By region
| Region | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| South West | 76.5% | 19,224 | 941 |
| North West | 75.4% | 29,000 | 1,963 |
| North East and Yorkshire | 73.0% | 30,051 | 3,546 |
| London | 69.4% | 33,211 | 4,347 |
| Midlands | 66.3% | 33,048 | 5,463 |
| South East | 65.6% | 27,523 | 5,282 |
| East of England | 62.9% | 25,583 | 4,617 |
Trusts in England
Trusts with at least 200 people on the endoscopy waiting list, ordered by share waiting under 6 weeks. Includes independent-sector and specialist providers, which can have shorter lists.
Scotland
Scottish diagnostic figures count people waiting more than 6 weeks (42 days) at the end of the month, from Public Health Scotland. Not NHS England data. Scotland overall: 47.5% of 26,008 waiting over 6 weeks (June 2026).
| Board / trust | % over 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|
| NHS Fife | 2.7% | 413 |
| NHS Shetland | 11.6% | 43 |
| NHS Orkney | 12.0% | 83 |
| NHS Forth Valley | 12.2% | 572 |
| NHS Dumfries and Galloway | 15.3% | 754 |
| NHS Highland | 22.2% | 820 |
| NHS Western Isles | 32.9% | 73 |
| NHS Borders | 37.3% | 461 |
| NHS Lanarkshire | 42.1% | 3,961 |
| NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde | 45.6% | 6,299 |
| NHS Lothian | 53.3% | 4,106 |
| NHS Grampian | 54.5% | 2,344 |
| NHS Ayrshire and Arran | 55.8% | 2,786 |
| NHS Tayside | 66.9% | 3,293 |
Wales
Welsh diagnostic figures use an 8-week measure (people waiting more than 8 weeks), not the 6-week measure used in England and Scotland, so the numbers are not directly comparable. Not NHS England data. Wales overall: 40.5% of 13,146 waiting over 8 weeks (August 2026).
| Board / trust | % over 8 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|
| Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board | 3.4% | 1,767 |
| Hywel Dda University Health Board | 5.4% | 814 |
| Powys Teaching Health Board | 6.7% | 30 |
| Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | 6.8% | 1,577 |
| Swansea Bay University Health Board | 49.6% | 1,844 |
| Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | 54.4% | 3,501 |
| Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | 63.5% | 3,613 |
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland diagnostic figures are published quarterly by the Department of Health and count people waiting more than 6 weeks at the end of the quarter. Not NHS England data. Northern Ireland overall: 40.4% of 9,540 waiting over 6 weeks (Quarter ending June 2026).
| Board / trust | % over 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|
| Northern HSC Trust | 25.4% | 1,480 |
| Western HSC Trust | 27.6% | 1,663 |
| Belfast HSC Trust | 38.5% | 1,575 |
| South Eastern HSC Trust | 46.2% | 2,867 |
| Southern HSC Trust | 55.9% | 1,955 |
Endoscopy waits by town
Aberdeen · Antrim · Ashford · Ballymena · Banbury · Bangor (County Down) · Bangor (Gwynedd) · Barnstaple · Basingstoke · Bath · Belfast · Bicester · Birmingham · Blackburn · Bolton · Bournemouth · Bradford · Bridgwater · Brighton · Burnley · Camden · Canterbury · Cardiff · Chesterfield · Coventry · Crawley · Croydon · Dartford · Derby · Doncaster · Dorchester · Dudley · Dunfermline · East Kilbride · Eastbourne · Edinburgh · Epsom · Exeter · Falmouth · Flint · Gateshead · Glasgow · Greenwich · Guildford · Hackney · Hamilton · Harrogate · Hastings · Inverness · Kirkcaldy · Leamington Spa · Leeds · Leicester · Lewes · Liverpool · Londonderry / Derry · Loughborough · Maidenhead · Maidstone · Manchester · Mansfield · Newcastle upon Tyne · Newport · Newquay · Newry · Nottingham · Nuneaton · Oxford · Penzance · Plymouth · Pontypridd · Poole · Portsmouth · Preston · Reading · Rotherham · Salford · Scarborough · Sheffield · Slough · Southampton · St Helens · Stockport · Sunderland · Swansea · Taunton · Tiverton · Torquay · Truro · Wakefield · Warwick · Westminster · Weymouth · Winchester · Wirral · Woking · Wolverhampton · Worthing · Yeovil · York
Frequently asked questions
How long is the wait for an endoscopy in England?
At the end of August 2026, 69.6% of the 197,640 people waiting had waited under 6 weeks and 26,159 had waited 13 weeks or more.
What is the diagnostic waiting time standard?
The NHS constitution standard is that fewer than 1% of patients should wait 6 weeks or more for a diagnostic test after referral.
Do urgent referrals wait as long?
No. Urgent referrals, including suspected cancer, are prioritised. The figures cover everyone on the list, so routine waits can be longer than the average suggests.
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.