you fail to attend appointments that you had chosen from a set of reasonable options.it is clinically appropriate for your condition to be actively monitored in secondary care without clinical intervention or diagnostic procedures at that stage.delaying the start of your treatment is in your best clinical interests, for example, when stopping smoking or losing weight first is likely to improve the outcome of your treatment.However, your right to an 18-week waiting time does not apply if: The maximum waiting time for non-urgent, consultant-led treatments is 18 weeks from the day your appointment is booked through the NHS e-Referral Service, or when the hospital or service receives your referral letter. If you're waiting for a hospital appointment or treatment, you can use the My Planned Care website to check the waiting times at your hospital.Ĭheck hospital waiting times on the My Planned Care website Maximum waiting times for non-urgent referrals Tip: Did you know that in most cases you have the legal right to choose the hospital or service you'd like to go to, as well as the clinical team led by a consultant or named healthcare professional?įor more information, see our guidance on NHS hospital services and accessing mental health service. receiving advice from hospital staff about how to manage your condition.agreeing to have your condition monitored for a time to see whether you need further treatment.beginning fitting for a medical device, such as leg braces.starting treatment that does not require you to stay in hospital, such as taking medicine.

being admitted to hospital for an operation or treatment.Your waiting time ends if a clinician decides no treatment is necessary, if you decide you do not want to be treated, or when your treatment begins. be referred to another consultant or department.have medicine or therapy to manage your symptoms until you start treatment.

have tests, scans or other procedures to help ensure that your treatment is appropriate for your condition.

Your waiting time starts from when the hospital or service receives your referral letter, or when you book your first appointment through the NHS e-Referral Service. This right only applies to services commissioned by the NHS in England and does not include public health services commissioned by local authorities, maternity services, or non-consultant-led mental health services. If you're referred for a physical or mental health condition, you have the legal right to start non-urgent consultant-led treatment, or be seen by a specialist for suspected cancer, within maximum waiting times.

Tell me why i'm waiting for so long