Luton and Dunstable Hospital
NHS hospital · Luton
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Luton and Dunstable Hospital is an NHS hospital in Luton, run by Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. See whether it has an A&E, its phone number, visiting and how to get there.
At a glance
- A&E
- A&E open 24 hours
- Planned care wait
- Half waited less than 14 weeks (whole trust)
- CQC rating
- Requires improvement (published 23 January 2026)
- Telephone
- 01582 491166 (trust switchboard)
Information checked 16 October 2026.
Urgent help
Call 999 or go to A&E if someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk. For urgent help that is not an emergency, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
Waiting times at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
These figures are for the whole trust, which runs 2 hospitals listed on this site, not just Luton and Dunstable Hospital. Waits at this hospital may be shorter or longer.
Other hospitals in this trust:
A&E: time spent in A&E
62.5% of people who went to the trust’s major A&E departments in September 2026 were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours.
18,509 attendances. England average for major A&E departments: 60.6%. In an emergency, go to the nearest A&E or call 999.
Compare A&E waiting times at other hospitals.
Waiting for planned treatment
These are people who were still waiting at the end of August 2026 for non-urgent treatment led by a consultant, counted from the referral. The table shows the trust’s 5 specialties with the most people waiting. “Half waited less than” is the median wait. The NHS maximum waiting time for non-urgent, consultant-led treatment is 18 weeks.
| Specialty | People waiting | Half waited less than | 92 in 100 waited less than | Waiting under 18 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ear, nose and throat | 8,574 | 17 weeks | 45 weeks | 53.3% |
| Dermatology | 8,467 | 17 weeks | 42 weeks | 54.1% |
| Trauma and orthopaedics | 7,426 | 21 weeks | 50 weeks | 45.5% |
| Oral surgery | 7,264 | 22 weeks | 47 weeks | 42.5% |
| Gynaecology | 7,133 | 12 weeks | 38 weeks | 66.1% |
| All specialties | 86,990 | 14 weeks | 41 weeks | 59.7% |
Show all 17 specialties at this trust
| Specialty | People waiting | Half waited less than | 92 in 100 waited less than | Waiting under 18 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiology | 6,634 | 16 weeks | 36 weeks | 58.7% |
| Children's services (paediatrics) | 5,398 | 15 weeks | 39 weeks | 59.4% |
| Urology | 4,706 | 14 weeks | 38 weeks | 61.8% |
| General surgery | 4,069 | 16 weeks | 41 weeks | 55.4% |
| Ophthalmology | 3,863 | 12 weeks | 34 weeks | 69.5% |
| Respiratory medicine | 3,286 | 12 weeks | 31 weeks | 70.1% |
| Gastroenterology | 3,110 | 10 weeks | 37 weeks | 73.6% |
| Neurology | 3,070 | 16 weeks | 38 weeks | 57.2% |
| Plastic surgery | 1,633 | 15 weeks | 41 weeks | 58.1% |
| Rheumatology | 1,158 | 8.6 weeks | 19 weeks | 90.4% |
| General internal medicine | 678 | 5.6 weeks | 17 weeks | 95.3% |
| Elderly medicine | 298 | 8.0 weeks | 20 weeks | 87.2% |
If your GP refers you, in most cases you have the legal right to choose which hospital you go to for your first appointment. Compare waiting times at hospitals near you.
Source: NHS England, Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times (August 2026, published 8 October 2026) and A&E Attendances and Emergency Admissions (September 2026). Official statistics for the trust as a whole. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence.
Procedures at this hospital
Published figures for Luton and Dunstable Hospital from national audits and NHS statistics, from the UK Hospitals Guide. Each guide page explains what the figures mean and compares hospitals in the East of England. This is not a ranking.
Figures for this hospital
- Hip replacement
901Joint replacements, all joints, 2025 (NJR)
Middle hospital in the East of England: 752.5750 to 999. NJR outlier analysis (90-day mortality and revision rates): Not identified as an outlier - Knee replacement
901Joint replacements, all joints, 2025 (NJR)
Middle hospital in the East of England: 752.5750 to 999. NJR outlier analysis (revision rates): Not identified as an outlier - Hip fracture surgery
348People treated for a hip fracture, 2025 (NHFD)
Middle hospital in the East of England: 468300 to 399. Deaths within 30 days (case-mix adjusted): 8% - Emergency bowel surgery (emergency laparotomy)
165Emergency laparotomies, NELA year 11
Middle hospital in the East of England: 108.5150 or more. Deaths within 30 days (risk-adjusted): Within the 95% funnel limits - Stroke care
168Stroke patients, January to March 2026 (SSNAP)
Middle hospital in the East of England: 166.5Stroke team. 150 to 249. SSNAP level (A is highest, E lowest): Level D
Figures for the whole trust
These are published for the trust as a whole. The operation may be done at another of its hospitals.
- Bowel cancer surgery Major bowel cancer operations, 2024 (NBOCA): 200 or more (209). Deaths within 90 days of surgery (adjusted): 4%
- Breast cancer surgery Women having breast cancer surgery, 2021 to 2023 (NAoPri): 1,000 to 1,499 (1,120). Further operation after breast-conserving surgery (adjusted): 23.8%
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair Planned (elective) AAA repairs in 2024 (NVR): 25 to 39 (38). Deaths in hospital after planned repair (adjusted): 0.9%
- Carotid endarterectomy Carotid endarterectomies in 2024 (NVR): 50 or more (50). Stroke or death within 30 days (adjusted): 1.4%
- Leg artery bypass and angioplasty (peripheral arterial disease) Leg artery bypass operations in 2024 (NVR): 50 to 99 (62). Deaths in hospital after bypass (adjusted): 3.1%
- Major leg amputation Major leg amputations in 2024 (NVR): 30 to 49 (39). Deaths in hospital within 30 days (adjusted): 3.9%
- Carpal tunnel release treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,500 to 2,499
- Lumbar decompression (lower back surgery) treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 400 to 999
- Coronary artery bypass graft (heart bypass) treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,500 to 2,999
- Coronary angioplasty and stents treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,500 to 2,999
- Varicose vein treatment treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,500 to 2,999
- Inguinal hernia repair treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 3,000 or more
- Gallbladder removal treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,000 to 1,999
- Haemorrhoid (piles) surgery
- Weight loss surgery
- Cataract surgery treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 3,000 to 7,499
- Tonsil removal (tonsillectomy) treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 3,000 or more
- Grommets for glue ear treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 750 or more
- Hysterectomy treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 2,000 to 2,999
- Giving birth and caesarean section treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 5,000 or more
- Prostate surgery for an enlarged prostate (TURP)
- Kidney stone treatment
Sources: national clinical audits (NJR, NHFD, NELA, SSNAP, NATCAN, NVR) and NHS England statistics, under the Open Government Licence or CC BY 4.0. Data updated 26 October 2026.
Opening times
Opening days and times
Hospital wards are staffed 24 hours a day. The A&E department is open 24 hours a day, every day.
Outpatient clinics, tests and scans run at set times. Your appointment letter or text message tells you when and where to go.
Visiting times are set by each ward. Check with the ward before you visit.
Visiting information on the hospital website
A&E status: NHS England emergency care data (Emergency Care Data Set, August 2026).
Appointments and access
First outpatient appointments
To see a specialist at an NHS hospital, you usually need a referral, for example from your GP, dentist or optometrist.
In most cases you have the right to choose which hospital you are referred to for your first outpatient appointment.
Your referral is usually booked through the NHS e-Referral Service. You can then manage it in the NHS App or on the NHS website.
Some services let you refer yourself, such as maternity care.
If you already have an appointment, use the phone number on your appointment letter.
Contact the hospital to book or to ask about appointments.
Contact
Main telephone
Telephone: 01582 491166 (trust switchboard)
Contact the hospital to book or to ask about appointments.
Location and travel
Address and map
Luton and Dunstable Hospital
Lewsey Road
Luton
LU4 0DZ
Find care near here
Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026.
Public transport and parking
Links found on the official website, checked 24 October 2026.
Getting here by public transport
There is no station within 1 km. The nearest station is:
- Leagrave about 27 minutes' walkNational Rail
Nearest bus stop: Luton & Dunstable Hospital, about 3 minutes' walk.
Public transport directions (opens Google Maps)
Walking times are estimates from the straight-line distance to the hospital. Stations and bus stops are from the National Public Transport Access Nodes (NaPTAN), Department for Transport, 26 October 2026. NaPTAN does not list which routes call at each stop: check the operator or a journey planner before you travel, especially if you need step-free access. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Car parking
Parking is pay on foot: take a ticket on entry and pay at a pay station (coins, notes or card) before going to the exit barrier. Drop-off and up to 15 minutes is free, then up to 30 minutes £2.00, up to 1 hour £3.30, up to 2 hours £4.80, up to 3 hours £6.00, up to 5 hours £7.80, up to 6 hours £9.60, up to 7 hours £12.60 and up to 24 hours £14.40.
Blue Badge holders are not required to pay for car parking; no form is needed but the badge must be displayed in the car. St Mary's car park is for disabled parking, SSSU drop off and maternity drop off only.
From the hospital's car parking page, checked 15 November 2026. Charges and car park rules can change, so check before you travel.
NHS hospitals in England must offer free car parking to Blue Badge holders who are patients or visitors, outpatients who attend at least 3 times in a month for at least 3 months, the parent or guardian of a child under 18 staying in overnight (7.30pm to 8am, up to 2 vehicles) and staff working night shifts. Ask the hospital how to claim it, as you may need to register your vehicle.
Source: NHS car parking guidance, Department of Health and Social Care (updated 29 March 2022), checked 15 November 2026.
Facilities
We do not have details of step-free access, parking or other facilities here yet. If you need them, contact the hospital before you go.
Visiting
Visiting times and rules can change, for example during outbreaks. Check the hospital's own pages before you go:
Links found on the hospital's official website, checked 24 October 2026.
Book, change or complain
- Book or manage your first outpatient appointment
- Patient advice (PALS) and other contact details
- This hospital on the NHS website
- Manage your referral (NHS e-Referral Service)
- What the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) does
- Read inspection reports (CQC)
- Get an email when CQC inspects this hospital
- Tell CQC about your care
- Find your local Healthwatch
About this hospital
| Provider | Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
|---|---|
| Type | NHS hospital |
| NHS or private | NHS |
| Local authority | Luton |
More details
| NHS organisation code | RC971 |
|---|---|
| CQC location ID | RC971 |
Official website: Luton and Dunstable Hospital website
Hospital services
CQC lists these regulated service types at this location:
- Hospital
Service types are regulatory categories, not a full list of departments. Being registered for a service does not always mean it is running now. Check with the hospital.
Regulation and quality
This location is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The latest published ratings are below.
| Area | Rating | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | Requires improvement | 23 January 2026 |
| Caring | Good | 23 January 2026 |
| Effective | Good | 23 January 2026 |
| Responsive | Good | 23 January 2026 |
| Safe | Requires improvement | 23 January 2026 |
| Well-led | Requires improvement | 23 January 2026 |
Read the CQC report for Luton and Dunstable Hospital
Frequently asked questions
What is the telephone number for Luton and Dunstable Hospital?
Telephone: 01582 491166.
Is there parking at Luton and Dunstable Hospital?
Parking is pay on foot: take a ticket on entry and pay at a pay station (coins, notes or card) before going to the exit barrier. Drop-off and up to 15 minutes is free, then up to 30 minutes £2.00, up to 1 hour £3.30, up to 2 hours £4.80, up to 3 hours £6.00, up to 5 hours £7.80, up to 6 hours £9.60, up to 7 hours £12.60 and up to 24 hours £14.40. Blue Badge holders are not required to pay for car parking; no form is needed but the badge must be displayed in the car. St Mary's car park is for disabled parking, SSSU drop off and maternity drop off only. Checked 15 November 2026.
What is the CQC rating of Luton and Dunstable Hospital?
The latest overall CQC rating is Requires improvement, published 23 January 2026.
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Distances are straight-line estimates from postcode locations.
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Printed from https://ukhospitals.uk/hospital/luton-and-dunstable-hospital/ on 15 November 2026.