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
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust waiting times
Latest NHS England figures for A&E, diagnostic tests and planned treatment at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in the South West region, which serves Dorchester, Weymouth.
A&E
In September 2026, 78.6% of the 9,691 people attending A&E at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours. That is 4.2 points above the England average of 74.4% and 6.8 points above the South West average of 71.8%. It ranks 19 of 120 trusts with a major A&E in England and 1 of 12 in South West (1 = highest share within 4 hours). At the main emergency department (type 1), 60.6% spent 4 hours or less, against 60.6% across England. 2,121 patients were admitted as emergencies through A&E, and 70 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 74.4% (May 2026) to 82.0% (October 2025); it is down 1.3 points since September 2025.
Dorset County Hospital: % within 4 hours of arrival England
Month by month
| Month | Within 4 hours | Attendances | 12-hour waits (decision to admit) | England within 4 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 78.6% | 9,691 | 70 | 74.4% |
| August 2026 | 76.9% | 10,503 | 21 | 75.0% |
| July 2026 | 79.3% | 10,575 | 45 | 75.4% |
| June 2026 | 74.9% | 10,053 | 61 | 75.0% |
| May 2026 | 74.4% | 10,203 | 85 | 75.7% |
| April 2026 | 78.7% | 9,523 | 43 | 76.9% |
| March 2026 | 79.0% | 9,089 | 92 | 77.1% |
| February 2026 | 76.8% | 7,597 | 91 | 74.1% |
| January 2026 | 77.7% | 8,640 | 114 | 72.5% |
| December 2025 | 77.5% | 8,956 | 63 | 73.8% |
| November 2025 | 80.7% | 8,513 | 61 | 74.2% |
| October 2025 | 82.0% | 9,324 | 80 | 74.2% |
| September 2025 | 79.9% | 9,105 | 74 | 75.1% |
Diagnostic tests
| Test | Waiting list | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting 13+ weeks | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI | 609 | 97.4% | 2 | 78.0% |
| CT | 448 | 92.4% | 0 | 88.8% |
| Ultrasound | 1,321 | 99.1% | 2 | 78.3% |
| Endoscopy | 986 | 68.8% | 85 | 69.6% |
MRI: % waiting under 6 weeks England
CT: % waiting under 6 weeks England
Ultrasound: % waiting under 6 weeks England
Endoscopy: % waiting under 6 weeks England
Planned treatment (referral to treatment)
At the end of August 2026, 23,100 people were waiting to start consultant-led treatment at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Half had waited less than 14.1 weeks (England: 12.2 weeks) and 60.3% had waited under 18 weeks, 4.9 points below the England figure of 65.2%. The NHS constitution standard is 92% within 18 weeks.
| Specialty | Waiting | Median weeks | Under 18 weeks | Over 52 weeks | England median weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trauma and Orthopaedic | 3,432 | 19.4 | 46.1% | 140 | 13.9 |
| Ear Nose and Throat | 2,832 | 15.3 | 56.6% | 38 | 15.4 |
| Ophthalmology | 2,605 | 10.8 | 71.9% | 2 | 10.4 |
| Cardiology | 1,790 | 18.5 | 49.1% | 15 | 11.9 |
| Oral Surgery | 1,708 | 16.6 | 52.8% | 26 | 16.4 |
| Gynaecology | 1,580 | 12.8 | 66.5% | 33 | 14.2 |
| Other - Medicals | 1,574 | 13.3 | 64.9% | 58 | 10.7 |
| Dermatology | 1,552 | 9.8 | 69.7% | 32 | 10.5 |
Dorset County Hospital: median RTT wait (weeks) England
Other trusts in South West
| Trust | A&E within 4 hours | MRI under 6 weeks | RTT median weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust | 75.5% | 94.7% | 9.7 |
| University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | 71.8% | 97.7% | 12.4 |
| Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 71.7% | 86.0% | 12.0 |
| Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust | 71.5% | 81.7% | – |
| Bristol NHS Foundation Trust | 69.7% | 92.0% | 11.1 |
| Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust | 66.5% | 76.0% | 11.7 |
| Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 65.6% | 100.0% | 15.0 |
| University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust | 65.6% | 72.8% | – |
| Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 62.9% | 57.8% | 12.7 |
| Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 61.8% | 81.0% | 10.9 |
| Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust | 56.7% | 94.6% | 11.6 |
Towns served
Frequently asked questions
What are A&E waiting times like at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust?
In September 2026, 78.6% of A&E attendances were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours, against 74.4% across England and the 95% standard.
How long is the waiting list at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust?
23,100 people were waiting to start consultant-led treatment at the end of August 2026, with a median wait of 14.1 weeks. 370 had waited over a year.
How long is the MRI scan wait at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust?
97.4% of the 609 people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks at the end of August 2026.
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.