Sinus surgery waiting times
How long the wait really is, what it looks like at your own hospital, and the honest routes through it: the NHS, a targeted private step, or going fully private.
Updated August 2026 · NHS RTT data
The typical NHS wait
Across England, half of Ear, Nose & Throat patients are treated within 25 weeks; the average is 29, and 1 in 5 wait longer than 50 weeks. Your own hospital's wait is what matters: check it now.
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Your four options
We don't tell you which to pick. Here is the honest shape of each; your own figures are in the free dashboard.
Wait where you are on the NHS. There is nothing to pay and your care stays exactly as it is. How long you wait depends on your hospital.
Ask to be seen at a different NHS hospital with a shorter queue, for the same free NHS care. Often faster, with nothing to pay.
Pay to be diagnosed sooner, then have your treatment on the NHS. A targeted spend, not the full private cost.
Pay for your diagnosis and treatment privately and skip the NHS wait altogether. The fastest route, and the most expensive.
See your own figures for each option →
Fastest hospitals in England
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, Reading4 weeks
- Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cheshire West and Chester7 weeks
- United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Lincoln7 weeks
- Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, Wiltshire8 weeks
- South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Middlesbrough9 weeks
Admitted RTT pathway, August 2026. Source: NHS RTT.
About sinusitis
What it is
Sinusitis is swelling of the sinuses, the small air-filled spaces behind your cheekbones and forehead. It causes a blocked or runny nose, pain and pressure in the face, a reduced sense of smell, headache and sometimes toothache. Most cases follow a cold and clear up within two or three weeks. When symptoms last 12 weeks or more it is called chronic sinusitis, which is often linked to allergies or nasal polyps.
How it is usually treated
Most sinusitis is managed at home with painkillers, saltwater rinses and rest. For longer-lasting symptoms a GP may prescribe a steroid nasal spray, and antibiotics if a bacterial infection is likely. If it keeps coming back or does not clear, you may be referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist, who can offer surgery to open up the blocked sinuses, usually done through the nostrils with no visible cuts.
After treatment
Short-lived sinusitis usually clears up on its own within a few weeks, helped by rest, painkillers and salt water rinses. Chronic sinusitis is often managed with a steroid nasal spray, which can need to be used for months, and many people keep their symptoms under control this way without an operation. Symptoms can come back, so a spray is often advised long term, and if things do not clear after about three months of treatment you may be referred to a specialist, with surgery as a later option.
General information only, not medical advice. Your GP or specialist will advise on your own situation.
More NHS waiting times
Written by the Wait or Pay team and sourced to the NHS. Last updated October 2026.
What happens next with sinusitis
The usual steps, from seeing your GP to recovery, and the questions people ask at each one.
Before referral
Who should I see?
See your GP if sinus symptoms last more than a few weeks or keep coming back. They can try sprays and refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) service if needed. Your NHS waiting time starts once a hospital receives a referral.
Source: NHS, Sinusitis
Does it always need an operation?
No. Long-lasting sinusitis is usually treated with steroid sprays and rinses first, and surgery is considered if it doesn’t improve.
Source: NHS, Sinusitis
Getting referred
How do I get referred?
Ask your GP to refer you to an ENT service. For most planned care you have a legal right to choose which hospital, including one with a shorter wait.
Source: NHS, Your choices in the NHS
Your first hospital appointment
What happens at the appointment?
An ENT specialist examines your nose, talks through treatment, and may use a thin camera to look inside.
Source: NHS, Going into hospital
Will I have tests?
The specialist may look inside your nose with a thin camera, and sometimes arrange a scan.
Source: NHS, Sinusitis
Deciding on treatment
What does the operation involve?
If surgery is needed, it’s usually keyhole surgery through the nostrils to drain and open the sinuses, often as a day case.
Source: NHS, Sinusitis
Should I plan time off work?
Most people need about a week off after surgery. Ask the hospital.
Source: NHS, Sinusitis
On the waiting list
How long is the wait?
It varies by hospital. Wait or Pay shows the typical wait at each hospital, and the hospital can tell you your place.
Will I get a check before surgery?
Yes, most people have a pre-operative assessment a few weeks before.
Source: NHS, Having surgery
Should I plan driving and time off?
You won’t drive straight after an operation, so plan lifts.
Source: NHS, Sinusitis
Recovery
How long is recovery?
Often around a week or two, and you may be given sprays or rinses to use afterwards.
Source: NHS, Sinusitis
What if I’ll be off work a while?
You may be able to get Statutory Sick Pay while you recover.
Source: GOV.UK, Statutory Sick Pay
How long will you really wait, and how could you go sooner?
Your free companion dashboard compares all four paths for sinus surgery: wait, switch to a faster NHS hospital, part-private, or fully private. It names the faster hospitals near you, shows what going private would cost, and gives you letters ready to send. You can print it or save it as a PDF. Free, and nothing is locked or paid.
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