NHS hospital wait times above 18 weeks at a third of departments

New data shows average waits for treatment at some hospitals in England are above 30 weeks

Nearly 40% of NHS hospital departments in England have average treatment waiting times above 18 weeks - with average waits at some well over 30 weeks, according to Observer analysis of NHS data.

In England, the NHS Constitution sets out that patients should wait no more than 18 weeks from GP referral to treatment. But analysis of hospital waiting time data published on the NHS My Planned Care site shows that 813 out of 2,148 specialties at hospital trusts in England had average wait times for non-cancer treatment of more than 18 weeks in mid-August - 38% in total.