General surgery covers hernias, gallbladders and other abdominal and bowel operations. At the end of June 2026, 346,080 people in England were waiting for general surgery treatment. Just 62% were seen within the 18-week target, and 7,321 had already waited more than a year — the sort of queue private treatment can skip for anything you are not already being treated for.
Where general surgery waits are worst
| NHS trust | People waiting | Seen within 18 weeks | Waiting over a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Hospitals Sussex | 2,806 | 34% | 311 |
| King's College Hospital | 4,685 | 40% | 282 |
| Hampshire Hospitals | 2,933 | 42% | 173 |
| Royal Free London | 4,105 | 42% | 189 |
| Liverpool University Hospitals | 2,028 | 45% | 49 |
| St George's University Hospitals | 1,153 | 46% | 35 |
| Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals | 2,041 | 46% | 140 |
| Milton Keynes University Hospital | 2,094 | 46% | 63 |
| Chesterfield Royal Hospital | 1,311 | 48% | 159 |
| Northern Care Alliance | 5,463 | 48% | 434 |
| Lancashire Teaching Hospitals | 223 | 48% | 3 |
| Mid and South Essex | 8,646 | 48% | 779 |
The 18-week target is the point at which the NHS says treatment should have started. In the trusts above, most general surgery patients had already waited longer.
Skip the queue with private treatment
Nobody wants to spend months on a general surgery waiting list. A self-pay hernia repair costs around £3,668, and cover pays for treatment like it in full, usually within weeks. It will not pay for a condition you are already waiting on, so arrange it before a problem starts — compare cover, see if it is worth it, or get a free quote.
Frequently asked questions
What does private general surgery cost? A common general surgery procedure such as hernia repair costs around £3,668 self-pay, and private medical insurance covers it when arranged before symptoms begin.
Can I switch to private care once I am on the NHS list? You can pay privately at any time, but insurance will not cover a condition you are already waiting to have treated — that is why cover is worth arranging while you are well.
Source: NHS England Referral to Treatment (RTT) and Diagnostics (DM01) waiting-times statistics, June 2026; self-pay figures from UK private hospitals’ own published price lists. Waiting-list figures change monthly.