Kidney stone treatment in the North West: waiting times

Small kidney stones often pass in your pee. Larger stones may need treatment in hospital to break them up or remove them, for example with shock waves from outside the body (you stay awake), or with a thin tube passed up the urethra or through a small cut in the back under general anaesthetic.

Hospital-level numbers for these procedures are not published as open data. This page shows NHS waiting times for urology at each trust.

Hospitals in the North West

19 trusts in the North West with published figures. Sorted by name. This is not a ranking: read how to read this first.

Hospital-level numbers for this specific operation are not published as open data. We do not show a volume figure because the nearest published grouping is dominated by other procedures.

Kidney stone treatment: trusts in the North West
TrustTrust activity (context)Not published for this operationKey outcomeNo hospital-level outcome data publishedWaiting timeWhole trustPatient experienceCQC rating
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Clifton HospitalNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.30 (Higher than expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 78 cases, 29.0 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 2 cases FY2025-26
17.5 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 51.4% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Blackpool Victoria Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Blackpool Victoria Hospital)
Clifton Hospital: Good (CQC report for Clifton Hospital)
Bolton NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Royal Bolton HospitalNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.12 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 60 cases, 29.3 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 1 case FY2025-26
13 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 62.2% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)Somewhat worse than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 7.8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Good (CQC report for Royal Bolton Hospital)
The Christie NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: The ChristieNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 24 cases, 38.8 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 0 cases FY2025-26
7.4 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 90.7% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)Much better than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 9.2 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Good (CQC report for The Christie)
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: The Countess of Chester HospitalNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 0.90 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 50 cases, 28.7 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 2 cases FY2025-26
10 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 73.9% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Requires improvement (CQC report for The Countess of Chester Hospital)
East Cheshire NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Macclesfield District General HospitalNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.26 (Higher than expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 11 cases, 10.5 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 0 cases FY2025-26
13.2 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 64% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)Somewhat worse than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 7.8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Requires improvement (CQC report for Macclesfield District General Hospital)
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Burnley General Hospital, Royal Blackburn HospitalNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.27 (Higher than expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 80 cases, 23.7 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 2 cases FY2025-26
6.7 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 81.1% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 7.9 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Burnley General Hospital: Good (CQC report for Burnley General Hospital)
Royal Blackburn Hospital: Good (CQC report for Royal Blackburn Hospital)
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Chorley and South Ribble Hospital, Royal Preston HospitalNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.01 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 84 cases, 28.0 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 2 cases FY2025-26
12.4 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 63.5% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)Worse than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 7.7 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Chorley and South Ribble Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Chorley and South Ribble Hospital)
Royal Preston Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Royal Preston Hospital)
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Broadgreen Hospital, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, University Hospital AintreeNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 0.97 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 128 cases, 23.8 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 7 cases FY2025-26
17.6 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 51.2% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.1 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Broadgreen Hospital: No Approved Rating (CQC report for Broadgreen Hospital)
New Royal Liverpool University: No Approved Rating (CQC report for New Royal Liverpool University)
University Hospital Aintree: Requires improvement (CQC report for University Hospital Aintree)
Manchester University NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Manchester Royal Infirmary, North Manchester General Hospital, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Royal Manchester Eye Hospital, Saint Mary’s Hospital, Trafford General Hospital, Wythenshawe HospitalNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.00 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 177 cases, 24.0 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 13 cases, 1.8 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
15.8 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 55.2% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Manchester Royal Infirmary: Requires improvement (CQC report for Manchester Royal Infirmary)
North Manchester General Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for North Manchester General Hospital)
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital: Good (CQC report for Royal Manchester Children's Hospital)
Royal Manchester Eye Hospital: Outstanding (CQC report for Royal Manchester Eye Hospital)
Saint Mary's Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Saint Mary's Hospital)
Trafford General Hospital: Good (CQC report for Trafford General Hospital)
Wythenshawe Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Wythenshawe Hospital)
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Ormskirk District General Hospital, Southport and Formby District General Hospital, St Helens Hospital, Whiston HospitalNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.03 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 70 cases, 15.9 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 3 cases FY2025-26
12 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 68.4% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Ormskirk District General Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Ormskirk District General Hospital)
Southport and Formby District General Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Southport and Formby District General Hospital)
St Helens Hospital: Good (CQC report for St Helens Hospital)
Whiston Hospital: Not Rated (CQC report for Whiston Hospital)
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Leighton HospitalNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.05 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 24 cases, 13.9 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 1 case FY2025-26
8.9 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 82.9% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.1 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Requires improvement (CQC report for Leighton Hospital)
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Cockermouth Hospital, Cumberland Infirmary, West Cumberland HospitalNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.09 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 38 cases, 19.0 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 1 case FY2025-26
11.8 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 68.3% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Cumberland Infirmary: Requires improvement (CQC report for Cumberland Infirmary)
West Cumberland Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for West Cumberland Hospital)
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Fairfield General Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary, Royal Oldham Hospital, Salford Royal HospitalNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 0.96 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 117 cases, 21.9 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 7 cases FY2025-26
15.8 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 54.3% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Fairfield General Hospital: No Approved Rating (CQC report for Fairfield General Hospital)
Rochdale Infirmary: No Approved Rating (CQC report for Rochdale Infirmary)
Royal Oldham Hospital: No Approved Rating (CQC report for Royal Oldham Hospital)
Salford Royal Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Salford Royal Hospital)
Stockport NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Stepping Hill HospitalNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 0.89 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 35 cases, 16.1 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 2 cases FY2025-26
10.9 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 66.4% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.1 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Requires improvement (CQC report for Stepping Hill Hospital)
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Tameside General HospitalNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.13 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 48 cases, 30.0 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 4 cases FY2025-26
6.6 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 98.2% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 7.9 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Good (CQC report for Tameside General Hospital)
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Furness General Hospital, Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Westmorland General HospitalNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.02 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 35 cases, 17.2 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 1 case FY2025-26
11.9 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 65.1% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Furness General Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Furness General Hospital)
Royal Lancaster Infirmary: Good (CQC report for Royal Lancaster Infirmary)
Westmorland General Hospital: Good (CQC report for Westmorland General Hospital)
Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Halton Hospital, Warrington HospitalNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.06 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 60 cases, 29.8 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 0 cases FY2025-26
11.4 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 69.4% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 7.9 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Halton Hospital: Good (CQC report for Halton Hospital)
Warrington Hospital: Good (CQC report for Warrington Hospital)
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Arrowe Park Hospital, Clatterbridge HospitalNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 0.96 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 97 cases, 37.3 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 1 case FY2025-26
10.1 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 74.9% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Arrowe Park Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Arrowe Park Hospital)
Clatterbridge Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Clatterbridge Hospital)
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Leigh Infirmary, Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wrightington HospitalNot publishedNo outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.03 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 56 cases, 33.4 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 1 case FY2025-26
12.4 weeksHalf of people waiting for urology had waited less than this. 65.7% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Leigh Infirmary: Good (CQC report for Leigh Infirmary)
Royal Albert Edward Infirmary: Requires improvement (CQC report for Royal Albert Edward Infirmary)
Wrightington Hospital: Good (CQC report for Wrightington Hospital)

Across England

In 2025-26, NHS-funded care in England (NHS hospitals and NHS patients treated by independent providers; private patients are not included) recorded 41,588 episodes where the main procedure was operations to break up or remove kidney and ureteric stones (OPCS-4 M09, M14 and M27). 67% were day cases. Half of the people admitted from a waiting list had waited less than about 52 days from the decision to admit them. These are national figures from Hospital Episode Statistics (NHS England, 2025-26, Open Government Licence v3.0); the same detail is not published for each hospital.

How to read this

  • Not a ranking. The table is in alphabetical order. A higher volume does not on its own mean better care, and we do not combine the columns into a score.
  • Risk adjustment. Where a figure says “adjusted”, the audit has allowed for differences in the patients each hospital treats, such as age and other illnesses. Hospitals that take on more complex cases can still look different for reasons the adjustment does not capture.
  • Bands and limits. We only say a result is higher or lower than expected when the source itself says so (for example NJR outlier status, NELA funnel limits, SSNAP levels, CQC survey bands). Where the source publishes a rate without limits we show the rate and the national figure, and say “No banding published”.
  • Small numbers. A small hospital can have 0% or a high percentage by chance. Figures the source suppresses are shown as “Not published (small numbers)”.
  • Trust or hospital. This audit publishes figures for each NHS trust, which may run several hospitals. The operation may only be done at one of them.
  • Different periods. Each figure has its own period, shown next to it. Audit results describe operations done one to three years ago; waiting times are updated monthly.
  • Talk to your GP or consultant about what the figures mean for you. If you are referred for planned care in England, you can usually choose your hospital.

Full definitions: methodology and data dictionary.

Data sources and licences

Data last updated 26 October 2026. We do not change the published figures; we only group volumes into bands. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Sources

We checked this guide against these official pages on 26 October 2026.

Spotted something out of date? Tell us.