Injured at Work? NHS Waiting Times and Getting Staff Back

7,158,164 people were waiting for planned hospital treatment in England at the end of August 2026. The biggest list, trauma and orthopaedics, covers many common work injuries: backs, knees, shoulders, wrists and hands. 843,419 people were on it. And 22% of the 359,314 people waiting for an MRI scan had waited more than six weeks, against a standard of under 1%.

For an employer, that can mean an injured colleague off work, or on lighter duties, for months while they wait. Here is what the waits look like, and what helps.

How long the waits are

NHS England publishes waits by specialty at each hospital, not by operation. A knee, hip or shoulder operation sits within trauma and orthopaedics, and carpal tunnel release may be listed under trauma and orthopaedics or plastic surgery, depending on the hospital. So the most useful figure is the wait for that specialty at the hospitals near the person.

CheckWaitingTimes shows those waits for every hospital in England, using NHS England's figures:

• Knee replacement, hip replacement, shoulder surgery and carpal tunnel surgery
• MRI scan waits by hospital, because many joint and back problems need a scan before treatment can be planned
• The hospitals near any area, ranked by their latest waits

These figures run to August 2026. NHS England publishes the next set on 12 November 2026.

What employers can do

1. Get the first hour right. Good first aid on the day, and a clear entry in your accident book, make everything after it easier.
2. Report it if required. Injuries that keep a worker off work or off normal duties for more than seven consecutive days must be reported to HSE within 15 days. See our guide to RIDDOR.
3. Keep in touch. Agree with your colleague how and how often you will be in contact, and keep it supportive rather than pressured.
4. Use the fit note. If their GP marks them as "may be fit for work", agree adjustments together: lighter or different duties, shorter days, or a phased return.
5. Point them to physiotherapy. Most areas let people refer themselves to NHS physiotherapy for back, neck, joint and muscle problems, without waiting for a GP appointment.
6. Help them choose a shorter wait. At referral, patients can usually choose their hospital. If they are already on a long list, they can ask about moving to a faster hospital.
7. Check what your cover includes. If your business has occupational health, private medical insurance or a health cash plan, check what it offers for assessment, scans and physiotherapy.

None of this replaces medical advice. Your colleague's GP and the clinicians treating them decide what treatment they need.

Prevention still costs least

Trained first aiders, a current first aid needs assessment and good records will not prevent every injury, but they make sure the first hour goes well. When an injury does need hospital care, our guide to A&E, urgent treatment centres and minor injuries units helps your first aiders send people to the right place, and our ambulance waiting times guide shows why they matter.

Amber Training delivers Emergency First Aid at Work and First Aid at Work at your workplace, anywhere in England. Request a free quote and we will reply within 24 hours.