Endoscopy – East Kent Hospitals University NOT LIVE
4 in 5 (82.4%)
people on the endoscopy waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (1,528 waiting).
Official monthly figure, end of Aug 2026 · published 8 October 2026 · NHS England
Diagnostics (DM01) data for August 2026, published 8 October 2026
Endoscopy waiting times in Ashford
How long people are waiting for an endoscopy at the hospital trust serving Ashford, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Ashford: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest East Kent Hospitals University hospital: One Ashford Hospital (TN24 0YS), about 2 miles from central Ashford.
- Usually referred to: patients in Ashford are usually referred to East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the nearest major hospital. Your GP or referrer can tell you where you would go.
- Nearest community diagnostic centre doing endoscopys: Pitsea CDC (SS13 3DU), about 33 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Kent and Medway ICB.
- A nearby alternative: Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, about 17 miles away, where 81.1% of its endoscopy list had waited under 6 weeks at the end of Aug 2026.
What is an endoscopy?
Endoscopy here combines the four NHS England endoscopy tests: colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, cystoscopy and gastroscopy, where a thin camera is used to look inside the body.
Endoscopy waiting list at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
82.4%waiting under 6 weeks
1,528people on the endoscopy waiting list
269waiting 6 weeks or more
140waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 1,528 people were waiting for an endoscopy at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. 82.4% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 12.8 points above the England figure of 69.6% and 16.8 points above the South East figure of 65.6%. 140 people (9.2%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the endoscopy list had waited
East Kent Hospitals University: % waiting under 6 weeks for endoscopy England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 82.4% | 1,528 | 69.6% |
| July 2026 | 87.7% | 1,382 | 70.5% |
| June 2026 | 90.5% | 1,562 | 69.4% |
| May 2026 | 84.6% | 1,490 | 69.0% |
| April 2026 | 82.0% | 1,584 | 68.6% |
| March 2026 | 82.2% | 1,763 | 72.2% |
| February 2026 | 80.1% | 1,544 | 72.1% |
How Ashford compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust | 82.4% | 1,528 | 140 |
| South East region | 65.6% | 27,523 | 5,282 |
| England | 69.6% | 197,640 | 26,159 |
Nearby hospital trusts for endoscopys
Trusts serving neighbouring towns, ordered by the share of their list waiting under 6 weeks. In England you can usually ask your GP which hospitals you could be referred to; waiting lists change from month to month.
| Trust | Distance (town) | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust | about 50 miles | 98.8% | 2,106 | 2 |
| East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | about 24 miles | 96.8% | 759 | 8 |
| Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust | about 35 miles | 94.7% | 413 | 14 |
| Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 50 miles | 94.0% | 1,713 | 6 |
| Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust | about 17 miles | 81.1% | 966 | 79 |
| Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | about 49 miles | 79.4% | 1,203 | 40 |
| Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | about 45 miles | 76.8% | 724 | 29 |
| Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | about 46 miles | 75.2% | 1,677 | 123 |
| Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust | about 44 miles | 70.5% | 1,513 | 170 |
| University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | about 42 miles | 64.4% | 3,173 | 457 |
Endoscopy waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | Endoscopy under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury | 13 miles | East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust | 82.4% | 1,528 |
| Maidstone | 17 miles | Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust | 81.1% | 966 |
| Hastings | 24 miles | East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 96.8% | 759 |
| Dartford | 35 miles | Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust | 94.7% | 413 |
| Eastbourne | 37 miles | East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 96.8% | 759 |
| Lewes | 42 miles | University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | 64.4% | 3,173 |
| Greenwich | 44 miles | Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust | 70.5% | 1,513 |
| Croydon | 45 miles | Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | 76.8% | 724 |
More for Ashford: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Ashford · MRI scan waiting times in Ashford · CT scan waiting times in Ashford · Ultrasound waiting times in Ashford. National picture: Endoscopy waiting times in England.
Understanding the 6-week figure
NHS England counts everyone on the waiting list for a test at the end of each month and how many weeks they have waited since referral. The standard is that fewer than 1% of patients wait 6 weeks or more. Urgent referrals, including suspected cancer, are usually prioritised, so routine waits can be longer than the average suggests. If your wait is much longer than you were told, contact the hospital’s booking team or the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).
Frequently asked questions
How long is the wait for an endoscopy in Ashford?
At the end of August 2026, 82.4% of the 1,528 people waiting for an endoscopy at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 140 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 69.6% under 6 weeks.
Are endoscopy waits in Ashford getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust was 80.1% in February 2026 and 82.4% in August 2026, up 2.3 points.
Can I have my endoscopy somewhere else?
In England you can usually discuss with your GP or the referring clinician which hospitals or community diagnostic centres you could be referred to. Waiting times at nearby trusts are listed on this page as a starting point. The nearest community diagnostic centre recording endoscopys in NHS England’s Aug 2026 data is Pitsea CDC, about 33 miles from Ashford.
How often are these figures updated?
NHS England publishes A&E, diagnostics (DM01) and referral to treatment (RTT) statistics every month, usually on the second Thursday. A&E figures cover the previous month; diagnostics and RTT figures are a month further behind. This site refreshes when new files are published.