A&E data for September 2026, published 8 October 2026 · Diagnostics (DM01) data for August 2026, published 8 October 2026 · Referral to treatment (RTT) data for August 2026, published 8 October 2026
NHS waiting times in Southampton
Waits near Southampton at a glance
A&E – University Hospital Southampton NOT LIVE
7 in 10 (70.7%)
people at A&E were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours. At the main (type 1) A&E it was 2 in 3 (68.0%).
Official monthly figure for Sep 2026 · published 8 October 2026 · NHS England
Live waits are not published for Southampton. Not sure you need A&E? Use NHS 111 online or call 111.
Southampton, Hampshire, is served mainly by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. This page brings together the latest published NHS England figures for A&E, scans and tests, and planned hospital treatment at that trust, with trends and comparisons against the South East region and England.
Southampton: local hospitals and referrals
Nearest University Hospital Southampton hospital: Royal South Hants Hospital (SO14 0YG), under a mile from central Southampton.
Usually referred to: patients in Southampton are usually referred to University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the nearest major hospital. Your GP or referrer can tell you where you would go.
Nearest community diagnostic centre: Royal South Hants CDC (SO14 0YG), under a mile away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
Integrated care board: NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB.
A&E waiting times in Southampton
70.7%of A&E attendances admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours (September 2026)
68.0%within 4 hours at the main (type 1) A&E
13,544A&E attendances in the month
14waited over 12 hours from decision to admit
In September 2026, 70.7% of the 13,544 people attending A&E at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours. That is 3.7 points below the England average of 74.4% and 5.5 points below the South East average of 76.2%. It ranks 73 of 120 trusts with a major A&E in England and 13 of 17 in South East (1 = highest share within 4 hours). At the main emergency department (type 1), 68.0% spent 4 hours or less, against 60.6% across England. 3,811 patients were admitted as emergencies through A&E, and 14 waited more than 12 hours from the decision to admit them to being admitted.
Over the last 13 months the 4-hour figure has ranged from 58.4% (October 2025) to 74.1% (February 2026); it is up 3.1 points since September 2025.
University Hospital Southampton: % within 4 hours of arrival England
At the end of August 2026, 64,769 people were waiting to start consultant-led treatment at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. Half had waited less than 12.4 weeks (England: 12.2 weeks) and 64.0% had waited under 18 weeks, 1.2 points below the England figure of 65.2%. The NHS constitution standard is 92% within 18 weeks.
Largest specialty waiting lists
Specialty
Waiting
Median weeks
Under 18 weeks
Over 52 weeks
England median weeks
Other - Medicals
9,311
12.4
65.6%
49
10.7
Ophthalmology
6,979
11.8
67.0%
98
10.4
Neurology
6,528
14.4
57.8%
223
13.2
Other - Paediatrics
6,438
10.8
68.7%
132
12.3
Dermatology
6,029
12.1
63.6%
75
10.5
Other - Surgicals
4,211
9.4
71.4%
57
11.4
Trauma and Orthopaedic
4,081
17.8
50.6%
200
13.9
Cardiology
4,074
12.3
68.1%
35
11.9
University Hospital Southampton: median RTT wait (weeks) England
ADHD and autism assessment waits in the local ICB area
ADHD: in June 2026 there were 35,050 open referrals that may be for an ADHD assessment in NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board. 25,755 (73.5%) had been open for a year or more, compared with 57.8% across England. 31,515 had no first contact recorded yet. ADHD waits by area.
Autism: in June 2026, 8,640 people had an open suspected autism referral in this ICB area, and 7,285 (84.3%) had been waiting at least 13 weeks (England 86.8%). Autism waits by area.
NHS England counts open referrals that may be for ADHD. It describes these figures as management information and experimental statistics, so they are approximate and depend on how services record referrals. See also mental health waiting times.
Nearby towns
A&E performance at the main trust for the nearest towns on this site.
The 4-hour A&E figure is the share of people who were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours of arriving. The NHS constitution standard is 95%. The diagnostics figures show how long people on the waiting list for a test had waited at the end of the month; the standard is that fewer than 1% wait 6 weeks or more. The referral to treatment (RTT) figures cover people waiting to start consultant-led treatment, against a standard of 92% within 18 weeks. These are averages for a whole trust and do not predict how long any one person will wait.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the A&E wait in Southampton?
In September 2026, 70.7% of A&E attendances at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours, against 74.4% across England. 14 patients waited more than 12 hours from decision to admit. Actual waits depend on how urgent your condition is.
How long is the wait for an MRI scan in Southampton?
At the end of August 2026, 86.3% of the 1,581 people waiting for an MRI scan at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks (England 78.0%).
How long is the wait for a CT scan in Southampton?
At the end of August 2026, 81.5% of the 1,099 people waiting for a CT scan at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks (England 88.8%).
How long is the wait for hospital treatment in Southampton?
The median wait for consultant-led treatment at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust was 12.4 weeks at the end of August 2026, and 64.0% of patients had waited under 18 weeks.
Which NHS trust serves Southampton?
Southampton is mapped to University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust on this site, based on the nearest major hospitals. Some patients may be treated by other trusts depending on where they live and are referred.
How often are these waiting times 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.