The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) is warning that 2026 must be a turning point for women waiting for gynaecology care and is calling on the UK Government to go further and faster to tackle the gynaecology waiting list crisis.
Despite Government commitments to reduce NHS waiting lists, the picture for women remains deeply concerning over a year on from the RCOG’s Waiting for a Way Forward report. The number of women on waiting lists only dropped by 3% since November 2024 with 743,312 women remaining on the list (latest data from December 2025). If every woman currently waiting stood shoulder to shoulder, the queue would stretch over 191 miles – just one mile shorter than a year ago – taking almost two full days to walk from end to end.
Demand in England has grown, with 1.61 million gynaecology referrals between October 2024 – October 2025, up from 1.22 million between October 2019 and October 2020 - an increase of around 24%.
To meet the Government’s target of seeing 92% of patients within 18 weeks by March 2029, performance would need to improve by around 1 percentage point every month from now on. Based on the current trajectory, the Government will fail to meet this target.
While waiting, women are impacted by serious, often painful gynaecological conditions that have a devastating impact on their daily lives. Many are left struggling to work, care for families, or lead normal lives.
New analysis also reveals deep and persistent inequalities across England:
- Women living in the most deprived areas make up the highest share of those waiting the longest for care. They account for 15% of those waiting more than 52 weeks, compared with 7% from the least deprived areas.
- Waiting lists have risen most sharply among women from Black and Asian backgrounds, and incomplete ethnicity data suggests the true scale may be underestimated.
Gynaecology now has the fifth largest waiting list of all elective specialties across the UK – and is the only specialty that solely affects women.
To turn the tide on gynaecology waiting lists in 2026, the RCOG is calling on the Government to deliver urgent support for women waiting now, protect and expand Women’s Health Hubs so care is available closer to home, and using the renewal of the Women’s Health Strategy and 10-Year Health Plan to fix the underlying capacity issues driving long waits.
Dr Alison Wright, President of the RCOG said:
"Our members are working tirelessly to meet rising demand, but pressures across services mean capacity is stretched at every stage of care. With the right investment, there is a real opportunity to change this situation for women. By re-prioritising the health needs of 51% of the population, we can make genuine improvements to women’s lives - ensuring they can access the high-quality care they need, when they need it. The refreshed Women’s Health Strategy and the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan give Government the tools to act, and we stand ready and willing to work with them to deliver the change we know women deserve.”
India Weir, who shared her experience in 2024’s Waiting for a Way Forward report, is still waiting for the right gynaecological care more than a year later, despite having surgery in July 2025 said:
“I often feel like I have to be the specialist in my own care, keeping track of every detail because I don’t know when I’ll next be able to speak to someone or even access my notes. I have no mental energy left for the parts of life that should feel normal - seeing friends, being with family, even planning a holiday.”
Neelam Heera-Shergill, founder of community-led charity Cysters, said:
“The data highlights what we’ve long known – that in a system where women are already struggling to access timely gynaecology care, health inequalities are leaving women from South Asian and Black communities further behind. Cultural barriers, stigma, and systemic bias all compound the harm of long waits.
“Many women we help through our support network describe being seen across different services that don’t share information well, leaving them to repeat their history or navigate conflicting advice. For some, this has meant years of symptoms without consistent support. Until the basics are in place – including clear, connected records – it’s hard for women to feel fully supported along their care pathway.
“As women waiting, we feel worn down by raising the same issues time and again and seeing too little change. We need urgent, inclusive action to ensure no woman is left waiting in pain.”
Emma Crookes, Co Vice Chair of the RCOG Women’s Network said:
“It is heartbreaking to see that, over a year on from Waiting for a Way Forward, the gynaecology waiting list remains in crisis. Despite repeated calls to action - and clear commitments from the Government - thousands of women and people are still living with debilitating symptoms: severe pain, heavy bleeding, and the emotional strain of not knowing when they will be treated.
“In 2026, we must ensure women’s voices are heard, particularly those from deprived and ethnic minority communities who are being disproportionately affected. These women and people cannot wait any longer. We now need meaningful, sustained action to ease their suffering and deliver the care they have been promised.”
Tanya Simon-Hall, Founder of the Adeno Gang said,
“Long waiting lists aren’t just numbers; they represent lives on hold. For people with conditions like adenomyosis and endometriosis, every month waiting can mean worsening pain, escalating symptoms, strained relationships, and missed opportunities. These delays force lives to shrink around illness instead of receiving timely care to live fully.
“The postcode lottery makes this even worse. Access to diagnosis, treatment, or even basic relief should never depend on where someone lives. Many are left to fight for referrals, be taken seriously, and navigate a fragmented system while already in pain.
“It is urgent that access to specialist care is improved and regional disparities are ended. Everyone deserves timely, equitable care, and it is time for meaningful action to ensure no one is left suffering while the system catches up.”
- Read the new policy report available here.
- Waiting for a Way Forward report (2024) available here.
- Read more about our work to address waiting times for gynaecology care here.
- For media enquiries, contact the RCOG press office: E pressoffice@rcog.org.uk T +44 (0) 7986 183167
- Out of hours: press office emails are monitored Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. For urgent out of hours enquiries, please call +44 (0) 7986 183167