Why waiting times matter
Long waiting lists in gynaecology have a profound effect impact on individual women and their families, as well on the health system and society as a whole. Addressing this issue is not only a matter of reducing wait times but also a matter of improving health outcomes and supporting mental wellbeing.
Our role
The RCOG is committed to addressing the critical issue of gynaecology waiting times in the UK, which affect thousands of women’s health and wellbeing.
Our 2022 report, Left for too long, highlights impact of gynaecology waiting lists on women and on the wider health system and calls for action to give parity to a speciality that has too often been overlooked. In 2024, we have undertaken a project to refresh and build on the findings in our Left for too Long report.
Key projects
Explore our work to understand the scale of the issue and the changes needed:
Left for too long
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.
Waiting for a way forward
Following on from Left for too long, our 2024 project aims to provide an up-to-date picture of the size, scale and nature of the waiting lists for elective gynaecology services across the UK.