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

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust waiting times

Name: Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching 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 Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, in the North West region, which serves St Helens.

A&E

73.3%of A&E attendances admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours (September 2026)

62.8%within 4 hours at the main (type 1) A&E

25,375A&E attendances in the month

439waited over 12 hours from decision to admit

In September 2026, 73.3% of the 25,375 people attending A&E at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours. That is 1.1 points below the England average of 74.4% and 1.5 points above the North West average of 71.8%. It ranks 55 of 120 trusts with a major A&E in England and 6 of 18 in North West (1 = highest share within 4 hours). At the main emergency department (type 1), 62.8% spent 4 hours or less, against 60.6% across England. 8,293 patients were admitted as emergencies through A&E, and 439 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 69.8% (December 2025) to 74.7% (March 2026); it is unchanged since September 2025.

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching 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	73.3%	25,375	439	74.4%
August 2026	73.7%	24,716	436	75.0%
July 2026	73.2%	25,860	503	75.4%
June 2026	72.6%	25,424	403	75.0%
May 2026	73.0%	25,748	493	75.7%
April 2026	73.8%	24,859	471	76.9%
March 2026	74.7%	25,674	514	77.1%
February 2026	71.8%	22,484	480	74.1%
January 2026	72.6%	24,785	573	72.5%
December 2025	69.8%	25,148	497	73.8%
November 2025	71.7%	25,093	471	74.2%
October 2025	72.9%	26,163	508	74.2%
September 2025	73.3%	24,489	367	75.1%

Diagnostic tests

Diagnostic waiting lists at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, end of August 2026
Test	Waiting list	Waiting under 6 weeks	Waiting 13+ weeks	England under 6 weeks
MRI	2,904	86.2%	27	78.0%
CT	1,544	89.6%	1	88.8%
Ultrasound	7,028	79.5%	101	78.3%
Endoscopy	2,162	81.1%	45	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)

12.1 wksmedian wait (England 12.2 weeks)

64.9%waiting under 18 weeks (England 65.2%)

84,572people waiting for consultant-led treatment

1,809waiting over 52 weeks

At the end of August 2026, 84,572 people were waiting to start consultant-led treatment at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Half had waited less than 12.1 weeks (England: 12.2 weeks) and 64.9% had waited under 18 weeks, 0.3 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
Plastic Surgery	8,821	17.8	50.6%	319	14.0
Dermatology	8,208	15.2	55.3%	476	10.5
Ear Nose and Throat	7,932	14.3	59.4%	113	15.4
Trauma and Orthopaedic	7,922	9.7	67.4%	148	13.9
Gastroenterology	7,862	9.2	79.4%	22	11.0
Other - Medicals	6,908	10.6	69.2%	129	10.7
General Surgery	6,314	14.1	60.3%	177	12.8
Gynaecology	6,269	11.3	68.6%	107	14.2

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching 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
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust	75.6%	100.0%	9.4
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
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

St Helens · A&E · MRI

Frequently asked questions

What are A&E waiting times like at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust?

In September 2026, 73.3% 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 Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust?

84,572 people were waiting to start consultant-led treatment at the end of August 2026, with a median wait of 12.1 weeks. 1,809 had waited over a year.

How long is the MRI scan wait at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust?

86.2% of the 2,904 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.