Last updated 8 October 2026

NHS Waiting Times for Hip and Knee Replacement: Latest Figures and Your Options (October 2026)

At the end of August 2026, 843,419 trauma and orthopaedic pathways were waiting to start treatment in England — the largest waiting list of any specialty — and 61.1% of them had been waiting under 18 weeks, against a standard of 92%. This page is updated each month when NHS England publishes new figures, and links to our guides on checking your own wait, your rights, and your options if you cannot wait.

By OrthoVoyage Editorial TeamMedically reviewed by: —Published 8 October 2026

Key facts

At the end of August 2026, 843,419 trauma and orthopaedic pathways were waiting to start treatment in England, the largest of any specialty (NHS England, published 8 October 2026).
61.1% of orthopaedic pathways had been waiting under 18 weeks, against the NHS Constitution standard of 92%; across all specialties the figure was 65.2%.
The total waiting list in England was 7.4 million pathways, about 6.2 million patients, with a median wait of 12.2 weeks.
113,339 pathways had been waiting more than 52 weeks and 10,782 more than 65 weeks.
My Planned Care (myplannedcare.nhs.uk) shows average waits by hospital trust and specialty, updated weekly.

Checked 8 October 2026

The latest figures

Measure	England, end of August 2026
Trauma and orthopaedic pathways waiting to start treatment	843,419 — the largest of any specialty
Orthopaedic pathways waiting under 18 weeks	61.1% (standard: 92%)
All specialties: pathways waiting	7.4 million, about 6.2 million patients
All specialties: waiting under 18 weeks	65.2%
All specialties: median wait	12.2 weeks
Waiting more than 52 weeks	113,339
Waiting more than 65 weeks	10,782

Source: NHS England referral-to-treatment statistics, published 8 October 2026. A month earlier the orthopaedic list stood at 840,967 pathways with 60.9% under 18 weeks.

A "pathway" is one referral, so a patient waiting for two unrelated treatments is counted twice. The wait runs from GP referral to the start of treatment, so it includes the wait for a first appointment and for scans. These figures cover England only.

What this means for a hip or knee replacement

There is no national figure for hip or knee replacement alone: both are counted inside trauma and orthopaedics. Joint replacements are planned operations, so they are scheduled after more urgent cases, and patients waiting for them can wait considerably longer than the all-specialty median of 12.2 weeks.

The number that matters is the wait at your own hospital, in orthopaedics. See how to check your NHS waiting time.

Your options if you cannot wait

Option	Cost to you	Things to know
Stay on the NHS list	Free	Check your hospital's wait and ask about moving to a hospital with a shorter list
UK private, self-pay	£13,020–£16,914 for a knee, £12,750–£16,579 for a hip	Consultation and scans are usually extra. See UK costs
Private health insurance	Your excess	Only if the joint problem began after your policy did. See insurance and joint replacement
A private hospital in Poland	€8,620 (about £7,420) for a knee, €6,940 (about £5,970) for a hip, plus travel	Self-funded; the NHS does not pay for private treatment abroad. See surgery in Poland

Staying on the NHS list and exploring another route are not mutually exclusive: asking for a private or overseas quote does not remove you from the list. Whichever you choose, keep your GP informed.

OrthoVoyage is a medical travel concierge, not a hospital, and does not give medical advice.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the NHS waiting list for a knee or hip replacement?

There is no figure for joint replacement alone. At the end of August 2026, 843,419 trauma and orthopaedic pathways were waiting in England and 38.9% had been waiting more than 18 weeks. Your own wait depends on your hospital.

How many people are on the NHS waiting list?

7.4 million pathways, about 6.2 million patients, were waiting to start treatment in England at the end of August 2026 (NHS England, published 8 October 2026).

What is the NHS 18-week target?

The NHS Constitution standard is that 92% of patients should be waiting less than 18 weeks from referral to treatment. In August 2026 it was 65.2% across all specialties and 61.1% in orthopaedics.

Will I lose my place on the NHS list if I ask for a private quote?

No. Asking for a private or overseas quote does not affect your NHS referral. Tell your hospital only if you go ahead with treatment elsewhere, so your place can go to someone else.

Sources

Statistical Press Notice: NHS referral to treatment (RTT) waiting times data, August 2026 — NHS England
Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times Data 2026-27 — NHS England
My Planned Care — waiting times by hospital — NHS
Right to start consultant-led treatment within 18 weeks — Department of Health and Social Care

This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Always discuss treatment options with your GP or a specialist.

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