Although the number on waiting lists has dropped marginally, 743,312 women still remain on standby, with women of colour and those living in deprived areas suffering the most.
Gynaecological waiting lists remain high and inequalities are widening. Although the number of women on waiting lists has dropped marginally by 3% since November 2024, 743,312 women still remain on the list.
As the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) points out, if every woman currently waiting stood shoulder to shoulder, the queue would stretch over 191 miles.
Women living in the most deprived areas make up the highest share of those waiting the longest for care. They account for 15% of those waiting more than 52 weeks, compared with 7% from the least deprived areas. Waiting lists have also risen most sharply among women from Black and Asian backgrounds, and incomplete ethnicity data suggests the true scale may be underestimated.
“The data highlights what we’ve long known – that in a system where women are already struggling to access timely gynaecology care, health inequalities are leaving women from South Asian and Black communities further behind,” said Neelam Heera-Shergill, founder of community-led charity Cysters.
“Cultural barriers, stigma, and systemic bias all compound the harm of long waits,” she added.
Fifth largest waiting list
Demand in England has grown, with 1.61 million gynaecology referrals between October 2024 and October 2025, up from 1.22 million between October 2019 and October 2020 – an increase of around 24%.
To meet the government’s target of seeing 92% of patients within 18 weeks by March 2029, performance would need to improve by around 1 percentage point every month from now on. Based on the current trajectory, the government will fail to meet this target.
Gynaecology now has the fifth largest waiting list of all elective specialities across the UK – and is the only speciality that solely affects women.
“Our members are working tirelessly to meet rising demand, but pressures across services mean capacity is stretched at every stage of care. With the right investment, there is a real opportunity to change this situation for women,” said RCOG president Alison Wright.
“By re-prioritising the health needs of 51% of the population, we can make genuine improvements to women’s lives – ensuring they can access the high-quality care they need, when they need it,” she added.
“Long waiting lists aren’t just numbers; they represent lives on hold. For people with conditions like adenomyosis and endometriosis, every month waiting can mean worsening pain, escalating symptoms, strained relationships, and missed opportunities. These delays force lives to shrink around illness instead of receiving timely care to live fully,” said Tanya Simon-Hall, founder of the Adeno Gang, which supports, advocates and educates those with adenomyosis and other menstrual health conditions.
