The NHS has a number of targets to ensure patients are seen and treated in a timely manner. As we are now working as a group under the name NHS Humber Health Partnership, you’ll see data for both Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLaG) and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (HUTH).
Emergency treatment waiting times
All acute NHS Trusts have a formal target to see patients in A&E within four hours. For 2025/26 NHS England have set a target for trusts to ensure a minimum of 78% of patients who attend A&E are admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours
NLaG – 4 hour wait
In July 74% of patients were treated in our emergency departments within 4 hours.
HUTH – 4 hour wait
In June 59% of patients were treated in our emergency departments within 4 hours.
Our staff are working hard to see and treat people as quickly as possible but we are seeing high numbers of people attending with many of those requiring admission to hospital.
Cancer treatment waiting times
There are three key indicators for cancer NHS Trusts are measured against:
- Faster Diagnosis Standard: a diagnosis or ruling out of cancer within 28 days of referral (set at 75%)
- 31-day treatment standard: commence treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat (set at 96%)
- 62-day treatment standard: commence treatment within 62 days of being referred (set at 85%)
NLaG Cancer performance
Our performance against these targets in June 2025 was as follows:
- 28 day faster diagnosis standard – 60%
- 31 days from decision to treat to first treatment – 96%
- 62 days from urgent referral to start of treatment -48%
HUTH Cancer performance
Our performance against these targets in June 2025 was as follows:
- 28 day faster diagnosis standard – 53%
- 31 days from decision to treat to first treatment – 81%
- 62 days from urgent referral to start of treatment -45%
Waiting for planned treatment
We’re working hard to make sure patients get the treatment they need, as quickly as possible. The NHS Constitution sets out that patients should wait no longer than 18 weeks from GP referral to treatment for routine referrals. Patients may be considered urgent such as those with suspected cancer and heart disease and therefore will be seen more quickly. However, nationally, and locally patients are waiting longer than we would like at present.
The 18 week standard does not apply if A) you choose to wait longer, B) if delaying treatment is in your best interest (clinically), C) if it is clinically appropriate to monitor your condition without intervention at that stage, D) if you fail to attend appointments or E) your treatment is no longer necessary.
When you see a clinician at your chosen hospital or clinic you may:
- undergo tests, scans or other procedures to help ensure that your treatment is tailored appropriately to your condition
- have medication or therapy to manage your symptoms until you start treatment
- be referred to another consultant or department.
Your waiting time ends if no treatment is necessary or when your treatment begins. This could include:
- being admitted to hospital for an operation or treatment
- starting treatment, such as taking medication, that doesn’t require you to stay in hospital
- beginning your fitting of a medical device, such as leg braces
- agreeing to your condition being monitored for a time to see whether you need further treatment
- receiving advice from hospital staff to manage your condition.
NLaG RTT performance
Our performance against the Referral to Treatment (RTT) target for June 2025, was 61%.
HUTH RTT performance
Our performance against the Referral to Treatment (RTT) target for June 2025, was 59%.
Waiting times by specialty
You can view average waiting times for first outpatient appointments, treatment and procedures at our hospitals via the My Planned Care website:
This website includes:
- Average waiting times by specialty.
- Information on preparing for your appointment.
- Advice on managing your health while you wait.
Please remember that waiting times can vary based on clinical need and personal circumstances. Your GP may ask for you to be seen more urgently or on receipt of your referral our clinical teams may decide that you require a more urgent appointment.
Do you still need an appointment?
If you no longer need your appointment, please let us know, so we can offer it someone else who is waiting.
Waiting times for a diagnostic test (as of 28 July 2025)
The current waiting times in weeks for a diagnostic test at NLaG:
| Diagnostic test | Grimsby | Scunthorpe | Goole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audiology assessment – adults – direct referral Audiology assessment – adults – reassessment Audiology assessment – paeds – 1 tester Audiology assessment – paeds – 2 tester | 20 21 6 6 | 15 19 14 30 | 29 26 n/a n/a |
| Cardiology – Echocardiogram | 6 | 5 | n/a |
| Cardiology – Exercise Test | 6 | 6 | n/a |
| Cardiology – BP Monitoring | 2 | 3 | n/a |
| Cardiology – Event Recording | 4 | 4 | n/a |
| Fluroscopy Other – 2 week wait | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| Fluroscopy Other – urgent | 2 | 1 | n/a |
| Fluroscopy Other – routine | 4 | 3 | n/a |
| Fluroscopy – Barium – 2 week wait | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| Fluroscopy – Barium – urgent | 6-7 | 6-7 | n/a |
| Fluroscopy – Barium – routine | 12-14 | 12-14 | n/a |
| Radiology – Other – 2 week wait | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Radiology – Other – urgent | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Radiology – Other – routine | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Nuclear Medicine – Bone – 2 week wait | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Nuclear Medicine – Bone – urgent | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Nuclear Medicine – Bone – routine | 7 | n/a | n/a |
| Nuclear Medicine – Myoview – urgent | 3 | n/a | n/a |
| Nuclear Medicine – Myoview – routine | 12-14 | n/a | n/a |
| CT scan – 2 week wait | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| CT scan – urgent | 7 | 6 | n/a |
| CT scan – routine | 7 | 7 | n/a |
| CT Colon – 2 week wait | 4 | 4 | n/a |
| CT Colon – urgent | 4 | 4 | n/a |
| CT Colon – routine | 5 | 6 | n/a |
| Nuclear Medicine – Other – 2 week wait | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Nuclear Medicine – Other – urgent | 4 | n/a | n/a |
| Nuclear Medicine – Other – routine | 12 | n/a | n/a |
| Physical Measurements – Bone Densitometry (routine) | 6 | n/a | n/a |
| Physical Measurements – EEG – urgent | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Physical Measurements – EEG – routine | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Physical Measurements – Lung Function – 2 week wait | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Physical Measurements – Lung Function – urgent | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| Physical Measurements – Lung Function – routine | 1 | 5 | n/a |
| Physical Measurements – Nerve Conduction – 2 week wait | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Physical Measurements – Nerve Conduction – urgent | 2 | n/a | n/a |
| Physical Measurements – Nerve Conduction – routine | 3 | n/a | n/a |
| Physical Measurements – Urodynamics- 2 week wait | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Physical Measurements – Urodynamics – urgent | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Physical Measurements – Urodynamics – routine | 2 | n/a | n/a |
| Physical Measurements – other – 2 week wait | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Physical Measurements – other – urgent | 4 | n/a | n/a |
| Physical Measurements – other – routine | 9 | n/a | n/a |
| MRI – 2 week wait | 2 | 2 | n/a |
| MRI – urgent | 12 | 6 | n/a |
| MRI – routine | 14 | 9 | n/a |
| MRI General Anaesthetic – 2 week wait | 12 | n/a | n/a |
| MRI General Anaesthetic – urgent | 36 | n/a | n/a |
| MRI General Anaesthetic – routine | 40 | n/a | n/a |
| MRI pacemaker – 2 week wait | 12 | n/a | n/a |
| MRI pacemaker – urgent | 16 | n/a | n/a |
| MRI pacemaker – routine | 16 | n/a | n/a |
| Non-obstetric ultrasound – 2 week wait | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Non-obstetric ultrasound – urgent | 13 | 9 | 6 |
| Non-obstetric ultrasound – routine | 15 | 10 | 8 |
| Endoscopy – Colonoscopy | 3 | 3 | n/a |
| Endoscopy – Flexible Sigmoidoscopy | 1 | 3 | n/a |
| Endoscopy – Cystoscopy | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| Endoscopy – Gastroscopy | 3 | 3 | n/a |
| Colposcopy (routine) | 18 | 10 | 10 |
| Hysteroscopy (routine) | 27 | 27 | n/a |
Staying well while you wait
Health apps
You’re just one click away from hundreds of apps that can help you with your health and wellbeing. The apps on this website have been reviewed as safe to use to support you staying well whilst waiting for your treatment. To learn more visit https://hnyhealthapps.co.uk/en-GB
In the time before your treatment, you can take simple steps to improve your physical and mental health. This will reduce your risk of complications and improve your wellbeing now and during your recovery.
It’s important to:
- follow any specific advice you’ve received about how to prepare for your procedure or operation
- stop smoking
- keep taking your prescribed medicines, unless you’ve been told not to by your GP or hospital clinician
- eat well, and get to or keep a healthy weight
- exercise and keep active, unless you have been told not to
- control your blood pressure
- control your blood sugar levels, especially if you have or are at risk of diabetes
- avoid drinking more than the recommended 14 units of alcohol per week
- get support for your mental health if you need it
The NHS has information about exercise, healthy weight, sleep, eating well, alcohol, sexual health and mental health in the NHS Live Well advice.
You can also get advice and support from a GP, or the hospital team caring for you.
If your health worsens while you are waiting
If your symptoms change or become worse:-
Contact a GP if:
- you have not had your first appointment with the department at the hospital
- your GP has referred you for a diagnostic test, such as a scan or X-ray
Contact the hospital team caring for you if:
- you’re waiting for a follow-up appointment, after being seen by someone at our hospitals
- someone at our hospitals has referred you for a diagnostic test, such as a scan or X-ray
- you’re waiting for surgery or an outpatient procedure
- you no longer need or want to have treatment
Out of hours
If you have an urgent medical problem, contact NHS 111. Call 111 or go to 111.nhs.uk
In an emergency
Call 999 or go to your nearest emergency department.
