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

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust waiting times

Name: East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust waiting times
Creator: NHS England
License: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Latest NHS England figures for A&E, diagnostic tests and planned treatment at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, in the North West region, which serves Blackburn, Burnley.

A&E

75.6%of A&E attendances admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours (September 2026)

62.5%within 4 hours at the main (type 1) A&E

25,242A&E attendances in the month

814waited over 12 hours from decision to admit

In September 2026, 75.6% of the 25,242 people attending A&E at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours. That is 1.2 points above the England average of 74.4% and 3.8 points above the North West average of 71.8%. It ranks 34 of 120 trusts with a major A&E in England and 3 of 18 in North West (1 = highest share within 4 hours). At the main emergency department (type 1), 62.5% spent 4 hours or less, against 60.6% across England. 4,074 patients were admitted as emergencies through A&E, and 814 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 75.6% (September 2026) to 81.3% (March 2026); it is down 3.9 points since September 2025.

East Lancashire Hospitals: % 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	75.6%	25,242	814	74.4%
August 2026	77.4%	24,351	863	75.0%
July 2026	79.2%	26,251	855	75.4%
June 2026	78.0%	26,377	755	75.0%
May 2026	79.9%	26,385	1,112	75.7%
April 2026	79.5%	25,370	1,084	76.9%
March 2026	81.3%	25,345	977	77.1%
February 2026	78.0%	22,234	1,059	74.1%
January 2026	77.4%	24,861	1,407	72.5%
December 2025	77.8%	24,319	1,139	73.8%
November 2025	78.5%	24,886	1,284	74.2%
October 2025	78.4%	25,981	1,380	74.2%
September 2025	79.5%	24,194	978	75.1%

Diagnostic tests

Diagnostic waiting lists at East Lancashire Hospitals, end of August 2026
Test	Waiting list	Waiting under 6 weeks	Waiting 13+ weeks	England under 6 weeks
MRI	2,134	100.0%	0	78.0%
CT	1,649	100.0%	0	88.8%
Ultrasound	5,868	95.0%	32	78.3%
Endoscopy	1,682	95.7%	25	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)

9.4 wksmedian wait (England 12.2 weeks)

72.1%waiting under 18 weeks (England 65.2%)

46,343people waiting for consultant-led treatment

171waiting over 52 weeks

At the end of August 2026, 46,343 people were waiting to start consultant-led treatment at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust. Half had waited less than 9.4 weeks (England: 12.2 weeks) and 72.1% had waited under 18 weeks, 6.9 points above 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
Gynaecology	7,278	14.1	60.3%	143	14.2
Trauma and Orthopaedic	6,583	7.4	78.1%	7	13.9
Ophthalmology	4,340	11.8	67.2%	4	10.4
Ear Nose and Throat	3,545	7.4	78.8%	0	15.4
Oral Surgery	3,537	11.1	62.6%	10	16.4
Other - Medicals	3,412	10.1	74.3%	6	10.7
General Surgery	3,145	12.3	64.0%	0	12.8
Other - Surgicals	3,128	8.6	73.7%	1	11.4

East Lancashire Hospitals: median RTT wait (weeks) England

Other trusts in North West

Trust	A&E within 4 hours	MRI under 6 weeks	RTT median weeks
Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust	85.9%	100.0%	12.4
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	76.0%	76.7%	14.5
North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust	75.2%	99.3%	12.5
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust	73.5%	91.8%	10.8
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust	73.3%	86.2%	12.1
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	73.0%	96.4%	14.2
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust	71.7%	86.8%	12.8
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust	70.2%	99.4%	12.9
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust	70.0%	90.7%	15.5
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	69.0%	96.5%	13.6
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	66.7%	90.5%	12.9
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	65.2%	92.2%	10.6
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust	63.3%	98.6%	13.3
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust	61.8%	92.1%	11.4
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust	60.0%	100.0%	8.9
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust	53.4%	98.1%	12.0
East Cheshire NHS Trust	49.8%	74.1%	13.4

Towns served

Blackburn · A&E · MRI
Burnley · A&E · MRI

Frequently asked questions

What are A&E waiting times like at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust?

In September 2026, 75.6% 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 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust?

46,343 people were waiting to start consultant-led treatment at the end of August 2026, with a median wait of 9.4 weeks. 171 had waited over a year.

How long is the MRI scan wait at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust?

100.0% of the 2,134 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.