Would You Travel Abroad for Treatment to Avoid an NHS Waiting List?

The NHS waiting list is falling — but would you still wait?

There is some genuinely positive news about NHS waiting times.

In June 2026, 65.8% of patients waiting for planned NHS treatment in England had been waiting 18 weeks or less — the best performance in nearly five years.

The overall waiting list had also fallen to 7.11 million pathways by March 2026, its lowest level in around three and a half years.

But there's another way of looking at those figures.

Roughly one in three patients was still waiting beyond 18 weeks in June.

And the NHS Constitution's longer-term standard is considerably higher: 92% should wait no more than 18 weeks, a standard NHS England is aiming to restore by March 2029.

So imagine you're one of the people waiting.

Your condition isn't an emergency, but it's affecting your work, sleep, mobility or quality of life.

Then you discover that a private clinic elsewhere in Europe could potentially see you considerably sooner.

Would you go?

For some patients, the argument might be straightforward:

• potentially receive treatment sooner

• choose from additional specialists

• compare private treatment prices across countries

• stop putting life on hold while waiting

But travelling for healthcare creates an entirely different set of concerns:

• Who provides your aftercare when you return?

• What happens if you develop a complication?

• Would you need to travel back to the original clinic?

• Does the saving disappear once flights and accommodation are included?

• Would you feel as comfortable being treated away from your usual healthcare system?

And perhaps the biggest question is simply how long is too long to wait?

Would you happily wait three months for NHS treatment?

Six months?

A year?

Or would there come a point where you'd start researching alternatives elsewhere in Europe?

If you were told today that you faced a long NHS wait, but could afford private treatment abroad much sooner, what would you choose?

Wait for the NHS — or travel?

Share your reasoning below.

Sources

NHS England — Referral to Treatment Waiting Times, June 2026
Latest official statistics for consultant-led elective treatment in England.

NHS England — NHS keeps its cool as temperatures and demand soar, 13 August 2026
Reports that 65.8% of patients were within 18 weeks in June 2026.

NHS England — Referral to Treatment guidance
Explains the 18-week standard and the ambition to restore 92% performance by March 2029.