Heart bypass surgery (CABG) in the West Midlands: waiting times

A coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), or heart bypass surgery, uses healthy blood vessels from another part of the body to get round narrowed or blocked arteries that supply the heart. It treats symptoms of coronary heart disease such as chest pain (angina) and helps to prevent heart attacks. It usually takes 2 to 3 months to fully recover.

Hospital results for heart surgery are published by the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR), but not under a licence that lets us reproduce them here. This page shows NHS waiting times for cardiothoracic surgery and waits for heart ultrasound scans (echocardiograms).

Hospitals in the West Midlands

16 trusts in the West Midlands 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 K (heart) 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.

Coronary artery bypass graft (heart bypass): trusts in the West Midlands, Trust's overall NHS-funded activity, OPCS-4 chapter K (heart), 2025-26 (HES). Context only
TrustTrust activity (context)Trust's overall NHS-funded activity, OPCS-4 chapter K (heart), 2025-26 (HES). Context onlyKey outcomeNo hospital-level outcome data publishedWaiting timeWhole trustPatient experienceCQC rating
Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Birmingham Women’s HospitalFewer than 750Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter K, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation.No outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 1 case FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 2 cases FY2025-26
23.6% of people waiting for a echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.2%, August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Birmingham Children's Hospital: Good (CQC report for Birmingham Children's Hospital)
Birmingham Women's Hospital: Good (CQC report for Birmingham Women's Hospital)
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Russells Hall HospitalFewer than 750Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter K, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation.No 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): 34 cases, 14.6 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
23% of people waiting for a echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.2%, August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Requires improvement (CQC report for Russells Hall Hospital)
George Eliot Hospital NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: George Eliot NHS HospitalFewer than 750Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter K, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation.No outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.10 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 15 cases, 10.1 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
77.5% of people waiting for a echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.2%, August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.6 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Good (CQC report for George Eliot NHS Hospital)
The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: The Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt HospitalFewer than 750Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter K, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation.No outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 1 case FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 0 cases FY2025-26
Not published for this specialtyMuch better than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 9.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Good (CQC report for The Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Hospital)
The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: The Royal Orthopaedic HospitalFewer than 750Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter K, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation.No outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 2 cases FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 0 cases FY2025-26
Not published for this specialtyMuch better than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 9.1 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Good (CQC report for The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital)
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: New Cross Hospital3,000 or moreTrust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter K, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation.No outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 0.93 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 57 cases, 19.4 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 6 cases FY2025-26
0% of people waiting for a echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.2%, August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Requires improvement (CQC report for New Cross Hospital)
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: City Health Campus, Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, Sandwell Health Campus1,500 to 2,999Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter K, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation.No outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.11 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 25 cases, 12.4 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
17.6% of people waiting for a echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.2%, August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.1 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)City Health Campus: Requires improvement (CQC report for City Health Campus)
Midland Metropolitan University Hospital: No Approved Rating (CQC report for Midland Metropolitan University Hospital)
Sandwell Health Campus: Requires improvement (CQC report for Sandwell Health Campus)
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, The Princess Royal Hospital750 to 1,499Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter K, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation.No outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 0.95 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 74 cases, 26.7 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
12.1 weeksHalf of people waiting for cardiothoracic surgery had waited less than this. 86.2% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)28.4% of people waiting for a echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.2%, August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Royal Shrewsbury Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Royal Shrewsbury Hospital)
The Princess Royal Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for The Princess Royal Hospital)
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Warwick Hospital750 to 1,499Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter K, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation.No 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): 23 cases, 14.5 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
5.2% of people waiting for a echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.2%, August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.5 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Good (CQC report for Warwick Hospital)
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Solihull Hospital3,000 or moreTrust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter K, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation.No outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 0.92 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 291 cases, 28.6 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
6.9 weeksHalf of people waiting for cardiothoracic surgery had waited less than this. 82% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)1.2% of people waiting for a echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.2%, August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 7.9 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Birmingham Heartlands Hospital: No Approved Rating (CQC report for Birmingham Heartlands Hospital)
Good Hope Hospital: No Approved Rating (CQC report for Good Hope Hospital)
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham: Requires improvement (CQC report for Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham)
Solihull Hospital: No Approved Rating (CQC report for Solihull Hospital)
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: University Hospital3,000 or moreTrust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter K, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation.No outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.17 (Higher than expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 48 cases, 12.1 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
7.7 weeksHalf of people waiting for cardiothoracic surgery had waited less than this. 86.1% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)2.4% of people waiting for a echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.2%, 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 University Hospital)
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Queens Hospital3,000 or moreTrust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter K, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation.No outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 0.95 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 144 cases, 27.9 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
10.8 weeksHalf of people waiting for cardiothoracic surgery had waited less than this. 75.6% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)47.1% of people waiting for a echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.2%, 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 Queens Hospital)
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: County Hospital, Royal Stoke University Hospital3,000 or moreTrust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter K, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation.No outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.14 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 109 cases, 23.4 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 8 cases FY2025-26
11.1 weeksHalf of people waiting for cardiothoracic surgery had waited less than this. 73.7% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)38.3% of people waiting for a echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.2%, August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)County Hospital: Good (CQC report for County Hospital)
Royal Stoke University Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Royal Stoke University Hospital)
Walsall Healthcare NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Manor Hospital, Moat Road750 to 1,499Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter K, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation.No outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 0.95 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 40 cases, 23.9 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
0.3% of people waiting for a echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.2%, 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 Manor Hospital, Moat Road)
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Alexandra Hospital, Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre, Worcestershire Royal Hospital3,000 or moreTrust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter K, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation.No 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): 75 cases, 24.0 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
17.1% of people waiting for a echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.2%, August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.1 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Alexandra Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Alexandra Hospital)
Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre: Good (CQC report for Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre)
Worcestershire Royal Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Worcestershire Royal Hospital)
Wye Valley NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: The County Hospital750 to 1,499Trust’s overall NHS-funded activity in OPCS-4 chapter K, 2025-26. Context only, not a count of this operation.No outcome data published for this operation
More measures
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.11 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 26 cases, 23.9 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
8.8 weeksHalf of people waiting for cardiothoracic surgery had waited less than this. 81.8% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026)26.3% of people waiting for a echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.2%, August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.4 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Requires improvement (CQC report for The County 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 12,845 episodes where the main procedure was coronary artery bypass grafts (OPCS-4 K40 to K46). 0% were day cases. Half of the people admitted from a waiting list had waited less than about 55 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 117 NHS trusts in England with activity in OPCS-4 chapter K 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

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.