How long is the NHS wait for bunion surgery in London?

The current median NHS wait for bunion surgery in London (across 9 NHS trusts) is approximately 14 weeks. The 92nd percentile (long-tail) wait can extend to 47 weeks. There are 48,945 patients currently waiting on the Trauma & Orthopaedics pathway across these trusts.

Where can I get bunion surgery privately in London?

London has private hospitals operated by Spire Healthcare, Nuffield Health, Circle Health, and HCA Healthcare among others. Private bunion surgery typically costs £4,500–£8,500 in the UK. Most private hospitals offer consultation packages where you can be assessed within days. Ask your GP for a referral letter or self-refer directly.

Will going private affect my NHS care for bunion surgery?

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

Which London NHS trust has the shortest wait?

Across the 9 London NHS trusts in our dataset, the shortest median trauma & orthopaedics wait is at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (0 weeks). The full breakdown is shown in the table below.

Can I be referred to an NHS trust outside London for a faster wait?

Yes. Under the NHS Patient Choice rules, you have the right to 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 are your own responsibility.

Bunion surgery in London: NHS wait vs private cost

The NHS waiting list for bunion surgery in London has a median wait of 14 weeks across 9 NHS trusts serving the area. Private treatment typically costs £6,000, ranging from £4,500 to £8,500.

NHS

Around the national average

14 weeks

Median wait in London

92nd percentile wait:: 47 weeks
Patients waiting:: 48,945
Seen within 18 weeks:: 2925%

Free at the point of use. Specialty-level data covering Trauma & Orthopaedics.

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.

NHS trusts serving London

NHS Trust	Median wait	92nd %ile	Patients waiting	< 18 wks
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust RJ1	12 wk	39 wk	4,639	3076%
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust RJ2	17 wk	47 wk	5,703	3054%
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust RJ7	14 wk	35 wk	3,939	2459%
The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust RAS	16 wk	39 wk	5,508	3134%
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust RYJ	14 wk	38 wk	2,909	1758%
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust RP4	0 wk	0 wk	0	0%
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust RAL	20 wk	46 wk	11,182	5140%
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust RQM	18 wk	46 wk	5,574	2755%
Barts Health NHS Trust R1H	17 wk	43 wk	9,491	4953%

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See Bunion surgery waits across all UK cities →