Snoring and sleep apnoea waiting times

How long the wait for a snoring and sleep apnoea assessment 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 July 2026 · NHS RTT data

The national picture

Across England, half of Ear, Nose & Throat patients are treated within 25 weeks; the average is 28, and 1 in 5 wait longer than 50 weeks.

Pooled across 110 NHS trusts (13,114 patients). Source: NHS RTT, July 2026.

Seen a different number elsewhere? Why every website gives a different NHS wait →

Your three routes

We don't tell you which to pick: we give you the honest shape of each and let you decide.

If a private consultation is what gets you referred, your NHS wait starts from that referral, not from when your symptoms began or when you first saw your GP. You lose nothing by going private first, because you had no NHS clock running to lose. But you do not gain a head start either. Ask your GP for an NHS referral at the same time, so the clock starts while you are being seen privately.

What it costs privately

Private treatment cost varies with the procedure your consultant recommends, and is quoted before you commit.

Typical UK self-pay package prices, reviewed periodically.

Related conditions

See every NHS trust's snoring and sleep apnoea wait, ranked fastest first →

See NHS ent waiting times by hospital →

Browse all NHS waiting times →

See NHS sleep study waits, hospital by hospital →

Common questions

About snoring and sleep apnoea

What it is

Snoring happens when the airway narrows during sleep and the soft tissues vibrate. It is very common, and more likely if you are overweight, drink alcohol in the evening, smoke, sleep on your back or have a blocked nose. Snoring that comes with pauses in breathing, gasping or choking, or that leaves you very sleepy during the day, can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnoea, which should be assessed, because untreated it affects blood pressure and makes driving dangerous.

How it is usually treated

Treatment starts with the things that make the biggest difference: losing weight if you need to, avoiding alcohol before bed, stopping smoking, sleeping on your side, and treating a blocked nose. A GP can refer you to a sleep clinic if sleep apnoea is suspected. If it is confirmed, the main treatment is a CPAP machine, which gently keeps the airway open overnight, and a mouthpiece that moves the jaw forward can help milder cases. Where a specific blockage, such as large tonsils or a deviated septum, is the cause, widening the airway is occasionally considered.

After treatment

CPAP takes some getting used to, and the first few weeks are the hardest. Follow-up appointments adjust the mask and pressure, and it is worth persisting, because most people feel much less tired within days of it working properly. If the airway is widened for a blockage, expect a sore throat or blocked nose for one to two weeks. Snoring often improves, but it can return, particularly if weight goes back on.

General information only, not medical advice. Your GP or specialist will advise on your own situation.

Written by the Wait or Pay team and sourced to the NHS. Last reviewed September 2026.