Lumbar decompression surgery is an operation on the lower spine to relieve symptoms of compressed nerves, such as pain, tingling or numbness in the legs. It may be needed for spinal stenosis, sciatica or a slipped disc, usually after other treatments such as physiotherapy or steroid injections have been tried.
Hospital-level numbers for this operation are not published as open data. This page shows NHS waiting times for trauma and orthopaedics and, because an MRI scan is usually part of the assessment, how long people are waiting for MRI scans.
Hospitals in the South East
22 trusts in the South East 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. The activity column is context only: it shows the trust's overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V (bones and joints of the skull and spine) in 2025-26, from Hospital Episode Statistics, in bands. It covers many other procedures as well as this one, it is for the whole trust rather than one hospital, and it does not include private patients. It is not a count of this operation.
| Trust | Trust activity (context)Trust's overall NHS-funded activity, OPCS-4 chapter V (bones and joints of the skull and spine), 2025-26 (HES). Context only | Key outcomeNo hospital-level outcome data published | Waiting timeWhole trust | Patient experience | CQC rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Ashford Hospital, St Peter’s Hospital | 400 to 999Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 12.6 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 66.5% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)0.8% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.2 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Ashford Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Ashford Hospital) St Peter's Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for St Peter's Hospital) |
| Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: St Marks Hospital, Upton Hospital | Fewer than 150Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No hospital-level outcome data published | Not published for this specialty | Not published | No rating |
| Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Amersham Hospital, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Wycombe Hospital | 400 to 999Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 16 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 56.1% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)22% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | Somewhat worse than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 7.8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Stoke Mandeville Hospital: Good (CQC report for Stoke Mandeville Hospital) Wycombe Hospital: Good (CQC report for Wycombe Hospital) |
| Dartford and Gravesham NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Darent Valley Hospital | 150 to 399Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 17.7 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 50.8% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)0% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | Worse than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 7.7 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for Darent Valley Hospital) |
| East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Buckland Hospital, Kent & Canterbury Hospital, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, Royal Victoria Hospital, William Harvey Hospital | 400 to 999Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 20.7 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 44% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)48.3% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Buckland Hospital: Good (CQC report for Buckland Hospital) Kent & Canterbury Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Kent & Canterbury Hospital) Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital) Royal Victoria Hospital: Good (CQC report for Royal Victoria Hospital) William Harvey Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for William Harvey Hospital) |
| East Sussex Healthcare NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Conquest Hospital, Eastbourne District General Hospital | 150 to 399Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 9.5 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 78% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)6.3% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Conquest Hospital: Outstanding (CQC report for Conquest Hospital) Eastbourne District General Hospital: Good (CQC report for Eastbourne District General Hospital) |
| Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Epsom General Hospital | 150 to 399Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 13.4 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 61.9% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)0.9% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, 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 Epsom General Hospital) |
| Frimley Health NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Farnham Hospital, Frimley Park Hospital, Heatherwood Hospital, Wexham Park Hospital | 400 to 999Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 16.4 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 53.7% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)16.3% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Frimley Park Hospital: Good (CQC report for Frimley Park Hospital) Wexham Park Hospital: Outstanding (CQC report for Wexham Park Hospital) |
| Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Hythe Hospital, Lymington New Forest Hospital, Royal South Hants Hospital | Fewer than 150Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No hospital-level outcome data published | 9.5 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 83.2% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)0.8% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | Not published | Royal South Hants Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Royal South Hants Hospital) St Marys Hospital: Good (CQC report for St Marys Hospital) |
| Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Royal Hampshire County Hospital | 400 to 999Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 14.2 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 60.7% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)8.9% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital: Good (CQC report for Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital) Royal Hampshire County Hospital: Good (CQC report for Royal Hampshire County Hospital) |
| Isle of Wight NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: St Mary’s Hospital | Fewer than 150Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 16.9 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 52.2% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)0% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 7.9 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for St Mary's Hospital) |
| Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Fordcombe Hospital, Maidstone Hospital, The Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury | 1,000 or moreTrust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 10.8 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 75.6% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)1% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.1 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Fordcombe Hospital: Good (CQC report for Fordcombe Hospital) Maidstone Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Maidstone Hospital) The Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury: Requires improvement (CQC report for The Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury) |
| Medway NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Medway Maritime Hospital | 150 to 399Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 16.8 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 54.1% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)1.5% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 7.8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Medway Maritime Hospital) |
| Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Milton Keynes Hospital | 150 to 399Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 15.5 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 56.7% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)7.1% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for Milton Keynes Hospital) |
| Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Churchill Hospital, Horton General Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre | 1,000 or moreTrust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 15.1 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 57.4% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)11.8% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.2 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Churchill Hospital: Good (CQC report for Churchill Hospital) Horton General Hospital: Good (CQC report for Horton General Hospital) John Radcliffe Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for John Radcliffe Hospital) Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre: Good (CQC report for Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre) |
| Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Petersfield Hospital, Queen Alexandra Hospital | 400 to 999Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 18.4 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 49.1% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)59% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for Queen Alexandra Hospital) |
| Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: The Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead | 400 to 999Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 0.4% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | Much better than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 9.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for The Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead) |
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Royal Berkshire Hospital | 400 to 999Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 10 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 82.9% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)10.9% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for Royal Berkshire Hospital) |
| Royal Surrey NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Royal Surrey County Hospital | 400 to 999Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 13.4 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 62.7% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)0.2% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.5 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Outstanding (CQC report for Royal Surrey County Hospital) |
| Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Crawley Hospital, East Surrey Hospital | 150 to 399Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 17 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 52.7% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)26.1% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.2 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Crawley Hospital: Good (CQC report for Crawley Hospital) East Surrey Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for East Surrey Hospital) |
| University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton General Hospital | 1,000 or moreTrust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 17.8 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 50.6% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)13.7% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Princess Anne Hospital: Good (CQC report for Princess Anne Hospital) Southampton General Hospital: Good (CQC report for Southampton General Hospital) |
| University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Bexhill Hospital, Lewes Victoria Hospital, Princess Royal Hospital, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Southlands Hospital, St Richard’s Hospital, Worthing Hospital | 400 to 999Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter V, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation. | No outcome data published for this operationMore measures
| 18.8 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 48.4% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)7.5% of people waiting for a MRI scan had waited 6 weeks or more (England 22%, August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.4 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Bexhill Hospital: Good (CQC report for Bexhill Hospital) Princess Royal Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Princess Royal Hospital) Royal Sussex County Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Royal Sussex County Hospital) Southlands Hospital: Good (CQC report for Southlands Hospital) St Richard's Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for St Richard's Hospital) Worthing Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Worthing 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 19,191 episodes where the main procedure was primary decompression of the lumbar spine (OPCS-4 V25). 6% were day cases. Half of the people admitted from a waiting list had waited less than about 96 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.
- Trust activity (Hospital Episode Statistics). The bands show the trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in a whole chapter of the procedure classification (OPCS-4), for context. They are not a count of this operation, they are for the whole trust rather than one hospital, they exclude private patients, and we show bands only, not exact counts. Cut points are the lower quartile, median and upper quartile of all 128 NHS trusts in England with activity in OPCS-4 chapter V in the published table, rounded.
- 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
- Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity 2025-26 (Hospital Episode Statistics), NHS England. Source: Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity 2025-26, NHS England, part of the Government Statistical Service (published 24 September 2026). Copyright © 2026, NHS England. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. NHS-funded activity only. Open Government Licence v3.0
- Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times, NHS England. Source: NHS England, Referral to Treatment waiting times. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0
- Diagnostic Waiting Times and Activity (DM01), NHS England. Source: NHS England, Diagnostic Waiting Times and Activity (DM01). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0
- CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025 (trust benchmark results), Care Quality Commission. Source: Care Quality Commission, NHS Patient Survey Programme, Adult Inpatient Survey 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0
- CQC ratings, Care Quality Commission. CQC ratings: Care Quality Commission. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0
- Healthcare-associated infections: annual counts and rates by trust (financial year 2025 to 2026), UK Health Security Agency. Source: UK Health Security Agency, healthcare-associated infection annual data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0
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.
- Lumbar decompression surgery (NHS website)
- Sciatica (NHS website)
- Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity 2025-26 (NHS England)
- Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times 2026-27 (NHS England)
- Adult inpatient survey (Care Quality Commission)
Spotted something out of date? Tell us.