Summary for journalists · figures for July 2026

71,863 people in England have waited more than 18 weeks for NHS physiotherapy

The national picture

• 442,807 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy in England in July 2026. 71,863 of them, 16.2%, had already waited more than 18 weeks, and 1,193 more than a year.
• Across the 25 regions whose returns were consistent in both months, the list grew by 2.6% between April 2026 and July 2026, from 320,389 to 328,762. The number waiting more than 18 weeks in those regions went from 54,908 to 59,349. Please do not compare the England totals month to month: they move when providers join or leave the returns.
• Surrey And Sussex has the largest share waiting more than 18 weeks: 41.7% of its list (21,401 of 51,347 people), among lists of 2,000 or more.

Quote

“Almost 72,000 people in England have been waiting more than 18 weeks for NHS physiotherapy, and in the worst-affected region it's four in ten of everyone on the list. Most people don't realise they can see a private physiotherapist without a referral, often within days. We built MediMo so people can see who's available near them and what it costs before they decide.”

Region by region

One line per NHS region, largest share waiting more than 18 weeks first.

• In Surrey And Sussex, 51,347 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 21,401 of them (41.7%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 673 more than a year.
• In South West London, 15,951 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 5,636 of them (35.3%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 384 more than a year. The list has grown by 1.8% since April 2026.
• In Bristol, North Somerset And South Gloucestershire, 8,117 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 2,261 of them (27.9%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 96 more than a year. The returns for this region changed markedly between April 2026 and now, so its figures should not be compared with earlier months.
• In Gloucestershire, 7,920 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 2,203 of them (27.8%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 1 more than a year. The list has fallen by 6.7% since April 2026.
• In West And North London, 28,599 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 6,093 of them (21.3%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 3 more than a year. The list has grown by 5.2% since April 2026.
• In Cheshire And Merseyside, 26,762 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 4,776 of them (17.8%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 7 more than a year. The list has grown by 9.7% since April 2026. A first private physiotherapy appointment at the 13 clinics bookable on MediMo in the region costs from £48 to £80.
• In Thames Valley, 16,191 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 2,888 of them (17.8%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 14.1% since April 2026.
• In Lancashire And South Cumbria, 2,518 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 422 of them (16.8%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 22 more than a year. The list has grown by 6.3% since April 2026.
• In Central East, 31,352 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 5,214 of them (16.6%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 1 more than a year. The returns for this region changed markedly between April 2026 and now, so its figures should not be compared with earlier months.
• In Herefordshire And Worcestershire, 6,204 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 885 of them (14.3%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 2.3% since April 2026.
• In Cornwall And The Isles Of Scilly, 8,266 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 1,175 of them (14.2%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 3.7% since April 2026.
• In West Yorkshire, 18,161 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 2,551 of them (14%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 8.4% since April 2026.
• In North East And North Cumbria, 46,977 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 6,266 of them (13.3%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 1 more than a year.
• In South Yorkshire, 8,617 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 1,149 of them (13.3%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The returns for this region changed markedly between April 2026 and now, so its figures should not be compared with earlier months.
• In Birmingham And Solihull, 18,221 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 2,030 of them (11.1%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The returns for this region changed markedly between April 2026 and now, so its figures should not be compared with earlier months.
• In South East London, 3,518 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 388 of them (11%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 10.6% since April 2026.
• In Dorset, 3,671 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 371 of them (10.1%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has fallen by 11.3% since April 2026.
• In Northamptonshire, 4,110 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 391 of them (9.5%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has fallen by 2.1% since April 2026.
• In Hampshire And Isle Of Wight, 17,500 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 1,520 of them (8.7%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 4.7% since April 2026.
• In Greater Manchester, 15,545 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 1,100 of them (7.1%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 2 more than a year. A first private physiotherapy appointment at the 17 clinics bookable on MediMo in the region costs from £50 to £80.
• In Somerset, 10,632 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 505 of them (4.7%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The returns for this region changed markedly between April 2026 and now, so its figures should not be compared with earlier months.
• In Essex, 1,158 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 48 of them (4.1%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The returns for this region changed markedly between April 2026 and now, so its figures should not be compared with earlier months.
• In Norfolk And Suffolk, 10,407 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 422 of them (4.1%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 1 more than a year. The returns for this region changed markedly between April 2026 and now, so its figures should not be compared with earlier months.
• In North East London, 19,662 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 808 of them (4.1%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The returns for this region changed markedly between April 2026 and now, so its figures should not be compared with earlier months.
• In Black Country, 8,687 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 336 of them (3.9%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has fallen by 2.1% since April 2026.
• In Coventry And Warwickshire, 3,683 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 142 of them (3.9%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 7.3% since April 2026.
• In Staffordshire And Stoke-On-Trent, 10,476 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 402 of them (3.8%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has fallen by 9.7% since April 2026. A first private physiotherapy appointment at the 3 clinics bookable on MediMo in the region costs from £69 to £80.
• In Devon, 9,479 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 245 of them (2.6%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 2 more than a year. The list has fallen by 2.4% since April 2026.
• In Leicester, Leicestershire And Rutland, 5,879 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 77 of them (1.3%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The returns for this region changed markedly between April 2026 and now, so its figures should not be compared with earlier months.
• In Humber And North Yorkshire, 3,501 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 34 of them (1%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 7.2% since April 2026.
• In Kent And Medway, 11,747 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 85 of them (0.7%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 2.5% since April 2026.
• In Nottingham And Nottinghamshire, 5,571 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 36 of them (0.6%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 18.9% since April 2026.
• In Derby And Derbyshire, 1,183 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 3 of them (0.3%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has fallen by 3.1% since April 2026.
• In Lincolnshire, 1,195 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 0 of them (0%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has fallen by 9.6% since April 2026.

No data was reported for Bath And North East Somerset, Swindon And Wiltshire, Shropshire, Telford And Wrekin. That is not the same as having no waiting list.

Notes to editors

• Source: NHS England, Community Health Services waiting lists, July 2026, the latest month published. The figures count people on a community musculoskeletal physiotherapy waiting list at the end of the month, grouped by how long they had waited so far.
• Providers report these figures to NHS England and not every provider reports every month, so a small regional list can reflect missing returns rather than short waits. Rankings here are limited to lists of 2,000 people or more.
• NHS England merged several regions in March 2026. Changes over time are given only between months covering exactly the same regions.
• Providers join and leave the monthly returns, which can halve or double a region's list in a quarter. Where a region's list moved by 20% or more in 3 months we give no change for it and say so on its line; its current figures are as reported.
• Private prices are first appointments at physiotherapy clinics bookable on MediMo, given only for regions with at least three such clinics. They are the clinics' own prices.
• Full figures, a chart and a spreadsheet: https://medimo.co.uk/reports/nhs-physiotherapy-waiting-times
• MediMo is a UK booking website for private physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy clinics, showing live appointment availability — booking costs the same as going direct.
• Contact: [email protected]