NHS Waiting Times Wales (2026): Every Health Board Compared
NHS waiting times in Wales are rising again. At the end of July 2026, 709,700 treatments were waiting, the fourth monthly rise in a row, and over 4,700 people had waited more than two years, up from 2,600 in March. This guide shows the latest figures, compares every health board, and sets out how to be seen sooner.
Quick Answer
At the end of July 2026, about 709,700 patient pathways were waiting to start NHS treatment in Wales, relating to about 555,200 people. Only 65.7% had waited under 26 weeks, the Welsh standard, more than 172,400 had waited over 36 weeks, and over 4,700 had waited more than two years.
The longest waits are in Betsi Cadwaladr (north Wales), where 16.7% of pathways had waited over a year. Powys and Swansea Bay had no one waiting over two years. Cancer, diagnostic and A&E targets are also being missed. For the UK picture, see our NHS waiting times hub.
On this page
Latest NHS Waiting Times in Wales (July 2026)
| Measure | July 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Patient pathways waiting | About 709,700 | Up 11,300 on June; 666,700 in March |
| People waiting | About 555,200 | Up from 547,500 in June; 529,100 in March |
| Waited under 26 weeks | 65.7% | Standard is 95% |
| Waited over 36 weeks | More than 172,400 | |
| Waited over two years | More than 4,700 | Up 649 in a month; 2,600 in March |
| Average wait | 16.3 weeks |
Provisional figures for August 2026 suggest the list grew again, to about 714,200 pathways, with around 5,100 waiting more than two years. The Welsh Government has called the figures disappointing and says tackling backlogs remains its top priority, with extra funding for planned care this year.
NHS Waiting Times Wales by Health Board
Wales has seven health boards, and waits differ sharply between them. The table uses the Welsh Government’s March 2026 health board figures, the latest published board-by-board breakdown.
| Health board | Area | Waiting over 1 year | Waiting over 2 years | Cancer treated within 62 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aneurin Bevan | Gwent: Newport, Caerphilly, Torfaen, Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent | 12.2% | 0.3% | 55.9% |
| Betsi Cadwaladr | North Wales | 20.8% | 2.0% | 50.8% |
| Cardiff and Vale | Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan | 19.5% | 0.6% | 56.1% |
| Cwm Taf Morgannwg | Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Bridgend | 14.4% | 0.4% | 64.3% |
| Hywel Dda | Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire | 12.5% | Under 50 pathways | 60.9% |
| Powys | Powys | 1.0% | None | Not reported |
| Swansea Bay | Swansea and Neath Port Talbot | 13.0% | None | 54.6% |
By July 2026, Betsi Cadwaladr’s share waiting over a year was 16.7% and over two years 1.2%, still the highest in Wales, while Powys and Swansea Bay had no pathways over two years. Powys has no district general hospital, so many of its patients are treated in neighbouring Welsh boards or in England.
Diagnostic, Therapy, Cancer and A&E Waits in Wales
- Diagnostic tests: 118,700 people were waiting in July 2026, and 37,500 had waited longer than the 8-week target.
- Therapies such as physiotherapy: a record 65,800 waiting, with 6,800 beyond the 14-week target.
- Cancer: 60.1% of patients started treatment within 62 days in July 2026, against a 75% target.
- A&E: in August 2026, 63.8% of patients were seen within four hours, against a 95% target, and 10,977 waited 12 hours or more.
For what these waits mean for specific treatments, see cataract surgery waits, hip replacement waits, knee surgery waits and MRI waits.
NHS Wales Waiting Time Targets
Wales measures waits from GP referral to the start of treatment against a 26-week standard, with the aim that 95% of patients start treatment within 26 weeks and no one waits more than 36 weeks. Other standards cover diagnostics (8 weeks), therapies (14 weeks), cancer (75% within 62 days) and A&E (95% within four hours). None of these were being met in mid-2026.
If you are unhappy with your wait or care, NHS Wales’s complaints process is called Putting Things Right, and your health board can explain how to raise a concern.
NHS Waiting Times: Wales vs England
- Different standards: England measures against 18 weeks and Wales against 26 weeks, so percentages cannot be compared directly.
- Long waits: Wales had over 4,700 pathways waiting more than two years in July 2026. In England, waits that long are now rare.
- Right to choose: patients in England can usually choose their hospital when referred, including independent hospitals treating NHS patients. Patients registered with a Welsh GP do not have the same legal right.
For England’s figures, see NHS waiting times 2026 and why NHS waiting times are so long.
How to Check Your NHS Waiting Time in Wales
- Your health board’s website: several boards, including Hywel Dda, publish expected waits by specialty.
- The hospital or booking team: if you are already on a list, they can usually tell you roughly how long is left.
- Official figures: the Welsh Government publishes monthly NHS performance statistics, including health board breakdowns.
- Your GP: can explain the referral route and whether an urgent referral applies.
If your symptoms get worse while you wait, contact your GP or NHS 111 Wales, as your priority can be reviewed. In an emergency, call 999.
How to Be Seen Sooner in Wales
1. Pay for one step privately. A private consultation or scan can get you a diagnosis in days, and you can then return to the NHS for treatment. See mixing NHS and private treatment, how long it takes to see a private specialist and private healthcare without insurance.
2. Pay for your operation. Private hospitals offer fixed-price packages, usually within a few weeks. See private operation costs.
3. Health insurance. Insurance pays for private treatment of new conditions after you join, so you are not dependent on Welsh waiting lists. Some policies include a six-week option: you use the NHS if it can treat you within six weeks, and the insurer pays if it cannot. With current Welsh waits, that often means private treatment, at a lower premium. See the six-week NHS wait option, pre-existing conditions and the private health insurance hub.
Weighing it up? See how to jump the NHS waiting list and NHS vs private healthcare.
Private Hospitals in and Near Wales
- South Wales (Cardiff and the Vale, Gwent, Cwm Taf): private hospitals in Cardiff, Spire Cardiff, Nuffield Health Cardiff Bay and Vale and private MRI in Cardiff.
- South-west Wales (Swansea Bay, Hywel Dda): private hospitals in Swansea.
- North Wales (Betsi Cadwaladr): many people use hospitals just over the border; see private hospitals in Chester and Nuffield Health Chester.
- Near the south-east border: private hospitals in Bristol and Spire Bristol.
Insurers price by postcode and hospital list, so check which of these hospitals a policy includes. See hospital list tiers outside London.
FAQs: NHS Waiting Times in Wales (2026)
How long are NHS waiting times in Wales?
At the end of July 2026, about 709,700 patient pathways were waiting to start treatment in Wales, relating to about 555,200 people. The average wait was 16.3 weeks, but only 65.7% of pathways had waited less than 26 weeks, more than 172,400 had waited over 36 weeks, and over 4,700 had waited more than two years. Waits vary a lot by health board and specialty.
What is the NHS waiting time target in Wales?
Wales measures waits from referral to treatment against a 26-week standard, with the aim that 95% of patients start treatment within 26 weeks and no one waits more than 36 weeks. In July 2026, 65.7% of pathways were within 26 weeks. Separate targets apply to diagnostic tests (8 weeks), therapies (14 weeks), cancer (75% treated within 62 days) and A&E (95% within four hours).
Which health board in Wales has the longest waiting times?
Betsi Cadwaladr in north Wales has the longest waits. In July 2026 it had the highest share of pathways waiting over a year (16.7%) and over two years (1.2%). In the March 2026 figures, Cardiff and Vale also had nearly one in five pathways waiting over a year. Powys and Swansea Bay reported no pathways waiting over two years in July 2026.
Are NHS waiting times longer in Wales than England?
The two nations measure waits differently: England uses an 18-week standard and Wales a 26-week one, so the percentages cannot be compared directly. The long waits show the gap: Wales had over 4,700 pathways waiting more than two years in July 2026, from a much smaller population, while such waits are now rare in England. Patients registered with a Welsh GP also do not have England’s legal right to choose their hospital.
Can I go private if I am on an NHS waiting list in Wales?
Yes. You can pay for a private consultation, scan or operation at any time and stay on the NHS list, or return to the NHS afterwards. Private hospitals in Wales include Spire Cardiff, Nuffield Health Cardiff Bay and Vale, and hospitals in Swansea, and people in north Wales often use private hospitals in Chester. Health insurance covers new conditions that start after you join, not conditions you already have.
Important Information
This 2026 guide is independent general information, not medical, legal, financial or insurance advice. Figures are from Welsh Government NHS activity and performance statistics for July and August 2026 (as reported by Wrexham.com and The British Eye), the Welsh Government’s March 2026 health board performance summary, and Senedd Research (May 2026). Figures change monthly and some are provisional. If your symptoms get worse while you wait, contact your GP or NHS 111 Wales; in an emergency call 999. Going Private UK is not affiliated with NHS Wales or any provider named. If you compare insurance quotes through this site, we may receive a commission from our FCA-regulated partners at no cost to you; this does not influence our guides.
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