Summary for journalists · figures for August 2026

78,025 people in England have waited more than 18 weeks for NHS physiotherapy

The national picture

456,532 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy in England in August 2026. 78,025 of them, 17.1%, had already waited more than 18 weeks, and 1,336 more than a year.
Across the 26 regions whose returns were consistent in both months, the list grew by 3% between May 2026 and August 2026, from 331,492 to 341,387. The number waiting more than 18 weeks in those regions went from 57,528 to 62,742. 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: 40.2% of its list (22,857 of 56,846 people), among lists of 2,000 or more.

Region by region

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

In Surrey and Sussex, 56,846 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 22,857 of them (40.2%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 781 more than a year. The list has grown by 10.4% since May 2026.
In South West London, 13,277 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 4,346 of them (32.7%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 459 more than a year. The list has fallen by 16.2% since May 2026.
In Gloucestershire, 7,461 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 2,054 of them (27.5%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 1 more than a year. The list has fallen by 11.5% since May 2026.
In Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, 6,879 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 1,883 of them (27.4%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 40 more than a year. The returns for this region changed markedly between May 2026 and now, so its figures should not be compared with earlier months.
In West and North London, 29,063 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 7,090 of them (24.4%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 7 more than a year. The list has grown by 3.2% since May 2026.
In Cheshire and Merseyside, 27,778 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 5,370 of them (19.3%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 11 more than a year. The list has grown by 11.2% since May 2026. A first private physiotherapy appointment at the 13 clinics bookable on MediMo in the region costs from £48 to £80.
In Lancashire and South Cumbria, 2,537 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 490 of them (19.3%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 17 more than a year. The list has grown by 13.4% since May 2026. A first private physiotherapy appointment at the 3 clinics bookable on MediMo in the region costs from £80.
In Thames Valley, 16,293 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 3,117 of them (19.1%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 9.4% since May 2026.
In Central East, 31,678 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 5,475 of them (17.3%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The returns for this region changed markedly between May 2026 and now, so its figures should not be compared with earlier months.
In Herefordshire and Worcestershire, 6,178 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 1,036 of them (16.8%) had waited more than 18 weeks.
In Birmingham and Solihull, 19,219 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 3,034 of them (15.8%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The returns for this region changed markedly between May 2026 and now, so its figures should not be compared with earlier months.
In West Yorkshire, 17,999 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 2,814 of them (15.6%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 3.1% since May 2026.
In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, 8,367 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 1,223 of them (14.6%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 1.4% since May 2026.
In North East and North Cumbria, 48,318 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 7,022 of them (14.5%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 3 more than a year. The list has fallen by 2.1% since May 2026.
In South Yorkshire, 8,912 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 1,255 of them (14.1%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The returns for this region changed markedly between May 2026 and now, so its figures should not be compared with earlier months.
In South East London, 3,734 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 453 of them (12.1%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The returns for this region changed markedly between May 2026 and now, so its figures should not be compared with earlier months.
In Hampshire and Isle of Wight, 18,302 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 1,856 of them (10.1%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 5.2% since May 2026.
In North East London, 26,584 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 2,621 of them (9.9%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 12 more than a year. The returns for this region changed markedly between May 2026 and now, so its figures should not be compared with earlier months.
In Dorset, 3,336 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 266 of them (8%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has fallen by 18.2% since May 2026.
In Northamptonshire, 4,304 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 346 of them (8%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 8.6% since May 2026.
In Greater Manchester, 16,890 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 1,103 of them (6.5%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 2 more than a year. The list has grown by 4.8% since May 2026. A first private physiotherapy appointment at the 17 clinics bookable on MediMo in the region costs from £50 to £80.
In Coventry and Warwickshire, 3,680 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 191 of them (5.2%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 2.3% since May 2026.
In Black Country, 8,236 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 345 of them (4.2%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has fallen by 6% since May 2026.
In Staffordshire and Stoke-On-Trent, 10,426 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 423 of them (4.1%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 9.8% since May 2026. A first private physiotherapy appointment at the 3 clinics bookable on MediMo in the region costs from £69 to £80.
In Somerset, 9,833 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 358 of them (3.6%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 17.4% since May 2026.
In Norfolk and Suffolk, 10,434 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 363 of them (3.5%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The returns for this region changed markedly between May 2026 and now, so its figures should not be compared with earlier months.
In Essex, 1,062 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 30 of them (2.8%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has fallen by 13.4% since May 2026.
In Devon, 9,121 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 233 of them (2.6%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 2 more than a year. The list has grown by 5.6% since May 2026.
In Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, 7,705 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 199 of them (2.6%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The returns for this region changed markedly between May 2026 and now, so its figures should not be compared with earlier months.
In Humber and North Yorkshire, 3,034 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 36 of them (1.2%) had waited more than 18 weeks, and 1 more than a year. The list has fallen by 13% since May 2026.
In Kent and Medway, 10,969 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 91 of them (0.8%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has fallen by 2.8% since May 2026.
In Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, 5,585 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 41 of them (0.7%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has grown by 9.4% since May 2026.
In Derby and Derbyshire, 1,253 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 4 of them (0.3%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has fallen by 4.4% since May 2026.
In Lincolnshire, 1,239 people were waiting for NHS community musculoskeletal physiotherapy. 0 of them (0%) had waited more than 18 weeks. The list has fallen by 4.6% since May 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, August 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]