Long waiting lists in gynaecology have a profound impact on women and their families. Many women have told us that their physical and mental health has worsened whilst waiting for care, and that their condition and symptoms impact their work and social lives.
We also know gynaecology waiting lists are also impacting professionals across the health system, including many of our members. The current state of gynaecology waiting lists across the UK should concern all of us, especially as women, who make up 51% of the population of the UK, are being prevented from living full, healthy lives and reaching their potential.
The RCOG is committed to supporting policymakers across the UK to address gynaecology waiting times, so that all women, wherever they live, can access the high-quality and timely care they need. In our 2022 report, Left for Too Long, we highlighted the impact of gynaecology waiting lists on women and on the wider health system. We called for a shift in the way gynaecology was prioritised across the health service and for recognitions to be given to the impact of long waiting times on patients.
In 2024, we undertook additional research with women and people on gynaecology waiting lists and professionals across the health system to support our report, Waiting for a way forward. The report builds on the findings of our Left for too long report, illustrating that waiting times for gynaecology have worsened in all parts of the UK, with women living in areas of higher deprivation often waiting the longest for treatment.
Following on from the publication of the RCOG’s Waiting for a Way Forward report in 2024, the picture remains deeply concerning as we enter 2026. With nearly three quarters of a million women across the UK still waiting for essential gynaecology care, we have released an updated assessment of progress. The report urges the UK Government to go further and faster in addressing the growing crisis in waiting lists.
Explore our work to understand the scale of the issue and the changes needed:
Our latest report on the picture of gynaecology services across the UK urges the Government to go further and faster in addressing the growing crisis in waiting lists.
Following on from Left For Too Long, our 2024 report provides an up-to-date picture of the size, scale and nature of the waiting lists for elective gynaecology services across the UK.
In 2022, our Left for Too Long report documented a dramatic increase in gynaecology wait times since the pandemic, calling attention to the immediate need for action and government support.
