How long is the NHS wait for bunion surgery in the NW postcode area?

Patients living in the NW postcode area (North-West London) are typically referred to Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust or Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. The current median NHS wait for bunion surgery across these trusts is approximately 15 weeks. The 92nd percentile (long-tail) wait can extend to 46 weeks. There are 13,283 patients currently waiting on the Trauma & Orthopaedics pathway across these trusts.

Which NHS trust covers the NW postcode?

NW postcodes are primarily served by Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. NHS England publishes waiting time data per trust, not per postcode, so this is the closest accurate breakdown for North-West London residents. Under NHS Patient Choice rules you can also ask your GP to refer you to a different trust with a shorter wait — this is your legal right.

How much does private bunion surgery cost near North-West London?

Private bunion surgery in the UK typically costs £4,500–£8,500, with a typical price around £6,000. Most major UK cities have private hospitals from Spire, Nuffield, Circle, or HCA Healthcare offering this procedure with a typical wait of 2–4 weeks. Always confirm the exact total cost (including consultation, surgery, anaesthesia, follow-ups) before booking.

Will going private affect my NHS care if I live in NW?

No. You can self-fund private treatment without losing your place on the NHS waiting list and without affecting your future NHS care. Many patients use private providers to access faster surgery while keeping the NHS option as a free backup.

Can I be referred to an NHS trust outside the NW area?

Yes. Under NHS Patient Choice rules you can ask your GP to refer you to any NHS trust in England — not just the one closest to your home. If a trust elsewhere has a shorter waiting list, you can request a referral there. Travel costs for treatment further from home are your own responsibility.

Bunion surgery in the NW postcode area

If you live in the NW postcode area (North-West London), your GP will most likely refer you to Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust or Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. The current median NHS wait for bunion surgery is 15 weeks. Private treatment from £4,500.

NHS

Around the national average

15 weeks

Median wait for NW residents

92nd percentile wait:: 46 weeks
Patients waiting:: 13,283
Seen within 18 weeks:: 53%

Free at the point of use. Aggregated from 2 NHS trusts.

Private

Days, not weeks

£6,000

Typical UK private price

Lowest published:: £4,500
Highest published:: £8,500
Typical wait:: 2–4 weeks

Self-fund or use health insurance. Major UK groups: Spire, Nuffield, Circle, HCA.

Important context

NHS waiting-time figures are published at trust or specialty level and private prices are indicative ranges. Local eligibility, referral route, clinical urgency, provider package and insurance status can change the real-world choice. TreatCompare is for comparison only and is not medical, legal or financial advice.

Source type: Official NHS waiting-time data and private price model
Primary source: NHS England Referral to Treatment waiting-time data
Reporting period: Mar 2026
Last updated: 2026-05-22
Figure type: Mixed sources
Use: Research and comparison only

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Next step

Check nearby options for NW residents

Postcode pages answer the wait question. These links help users compare wider local options and private routes.

See North-West London city pageTrust-level wait breakdown Calculate wait vs costWeeks saved and monthly cost Private GP referralStart with a referral

Calculator

Is going private worth it for bunion surgery?

Adjust the wait and quote to estimate weeks saved, cost per week saved and simple monthly equivalents.

12 weeks saved

NHS wait

15 wk

Private quote

Private wait

3 wk

Time saved

12 weeks

Cost per week saved

£500

Monthly equivalent

£500/mo

or £250/mo over 24 months

This is a planning aid only. Actual quotes, insurance coverage and finance terms vary by provider.

How postcode waits work: NHS England publishes wait times per NHS trust, not per postcode. We have mapped NW postcodes to the trusts that most commonly accept North-West London residents. Your actual wait depends on which trust your GP refers you to — and under NHS Patient Choice you can ask to be referred to any trust in England, not just the local one.

2 NHS trusts serving NW postcodes

NHS Trust	Median wait	92nd %ile	Patients waiting	< 18 wks
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust RAL	18 wk	46 wk	10,402	50%
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust RYJ	12 wk	37 wk	2,881	64%

See the full North-West London city breakdown

TreatCompare also publishes a per-city version of this comparison with full NHS trust details and city-wide aggregates.

Bunion surgery in North-West London →