Nosebleeds
Nosebleeds (epistaxis) are bleeding from the lining of the nose, usually from the soft area near the nostrils. Read more about nosebleeds →
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 ent wait (not specific to nosebleeds), updated August 2026. Enter a postcode to see the hospitals near you.
ent waiting times by hospital
| Trust | Location | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | Reading | 4 weeks |
| Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | Cheshire West and Chester | 7 weeks |
| United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | Lincoln | 7 weeks |
| Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust | Wiltshire | 8 weeks |
| South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Middlesbrough | 9 weeks |
| Stockport NHS Foundation Trust | Stockport | 9 weeks |
| Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | Barnsley | 10 weeks |
| Isle of Wight NHS Trust | Isle of Wight | 10 weeks |
About nosebleeds
Nosebleeds are very common and are usually not serious. The inside of the nose is lined with many tiny, delicate blood vessels that sit close to the surface, and they can break and bleed easily, often after a knock, a cold, picking or blowing the nose, dry air, or for no obvious reason. Most nosebleeds come from the front of the nose and stop with simple first aid. Bleeding that is very heavy, lasts more than 10 to 15 minutes, or keeps coming back needs medical help.
How it is treated
Most nosebleeds can be stopped at home by sitting up, leaning forward and pinching the soft part of the nose for 10 to 15 minutes while breathing through the mouth. For nosebleeds that keep coming back, a doctor may examine the nose, sometimes with a small camera, to find the spot that is bleeding. A common treatment is cautery, where the troublesome blood vessel is sealed, usually with a silver nitrate stick after numbing the nose. Keeping the lining moist with an ointment can also help prevent them.
After treatment
After cautery the nose can feel tender and may crust for a few days, and it is usually advised to avoid picking or blowing it hard, and to go easy on heavy lifting and hot drinks for a short time, so the area can heal. Using a little ointment keeps the lining from drying out, which helps stop nosebleeds returning. Most people have far fewer nosebleeds afterwards. Get medical help if a nosebleed is very heavy, will not stop, or keeps happening despite treatment.
Sources: NHS: Nosebleed. 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.