The NHS Constitution sets out your right to access certain NHS services within maximum waiting times, or for the NHS to take all reasonable steps to offer you a range of suitable alternative providers if this is not possible. In particular, you have the right to:
- Start your consultant-led treatment within a maximum of18 weeks from referral for non-urgent conditions
- Be seen by a cancer specialist within a maximum of two weeks from GP referral for urgent referrals where cancer is suspected
- All the waiting times are described in the Handbook to the NHS Constitution
Please note there are exceptions in the right to treatment within 18 weeks from referral where:
- You choose to wait longer
- Delaying the start of your treatment is in your best clinical interests
- It is clinically appropriate for your condition to be monitored without clinical intervention or a diagnostic procedure at that stage
- You fail to attend appointments
- The treatment is no longer necessary
