Gout
Gout is a type of arthritis caused by a build-up of uric acid, leading to sudden, severe joint pain, often in the big toe. Read more about gout →
If symptoms are sudden, severe or getting worse, contact your GP or NHS 111.
Where are you up to?
The NHS reports waiting times by specialty, not by individual condition, so this is the rheumatology wait, updated August 2026. Enter a postcode to see the hospitals near you.
rheumatology waiting times by hospital
| Trust | Location | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|
| Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | Hackney | 3 weeks |
| Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Ashfield | 4 weeks |
| Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | Barnsley | 4 weeks |
| Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust | Maidstone | 4 weeks |
| Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust | Portsmouth | 5 weeks |
| Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust | Surrey Heath | 5 weeks |
| Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust | Kingston upon Thames | 5 weeks |
| South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | Warwick | 5 weeks |
About gout
Gout is a type of arthritis that causes sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness and swelling in a joint, most often the big toe, though it can affect other joints too. It is caused by tiny crystals that form in and around a joint when there is too much of a waste product called urate in the blood. An attack can come on overnight and make the joint so tender that even the weight of a bedsheet hurts. Attacks tend to settle over a week or two, but they often come back.
How it is treated
Gout is usually diagnosed from the symptoms, an examination and a blood test, and is often managed by a GP. An attack is treated with anti-inflammatory medicine to bring down the pain and swelling, along with rest and keeping the joint cool and raised. To stop attacks coming back, a daily medicine can lower the urate level in the blood over time, which is usually offered to people who get frequent attacks. Cutting down on alcohol and certain foods, and reaching a healthy weight, also help.
Living with it
Many people get further attacks of gout, so the aim is to reduce how often they happen. If you are taking a daily urate-lowering medicine, keeping to it every day is what keeps the level down and prevents attacks, even when you feel well. Drinking plenty of water, cutting down on alcohol and sugary drinks, and keeping to a healthy weight all help. Having a supply of your attack medicine ready means you can treat a flare quickly. Over time, well-controlled gout causes far fewer attacks.
Sources: NHS: Gout. Last updated October 2026.
General information only, not medical advice. Wait or Pay is independent and is not the NHS. Your GP decides what care, if any, you need.