The waiting list for surgery marks a new record

Until 853,509 patients There were pending surgical intervention, 6,926 more people compared to the previous year (0.8%) and up to 20,781 more people than in June 2025, according to the indicators of the waiting lists in the National Health System (SNS), corresponding to the second half of 2025 as of December 31, published this Thursday by the Ministry of Health.

However, the average waiting time is at 121 days5 days less than in the same period of the previous year, but 3 days more than six months ago. On the other hand, 21.6 percent of patients on the waiting list take more than 6 months1.3 points lower than the previous year, and 2 points more than in June.

Although in Plastic Surgery there has been a small decrease in the number of patients treated (0.4%), the average waiting time has increased by 11 days. The rest of the specialties have a greater number of pending patients than on the same date last year.

Traumatology (200,584), Ophthalmology (172,974) and General Surgery (149,749) are the specialties with the highest number of registered patients. However, the specialties with the greatest percentage increases in the period are Dermatology, which grew by 14.7% (3,140 patients), Maxillofacial Surgery, by 13.7% (4,134 patients), and Thoracic Surgery, by 7.4% (212 patients).

The specialties with the longest and shortest waiting time

Dermatology with 64 days, and Cardiac surgery and Ophthalmology, both with 77 days, are the specialties with the shortest average waiting times. The specialty with the longest average waiting time continues to be Plastic Surgery with 269 daysfollowed by Neurosurgery with 172 days and Angiology and Vascular Surgery, with an average wait of 151 days.

The 11 surgical processes that are monitored grouped together in December 2025 a total of 295,275 patients (34.6% of the total), which represents a decrease of 1,621 patients compared to the same period in 2024. The average waiting time decreases in eight of the eleven processes, standing at 93 days. Of note is the reduction in cholecystectomy and correction of Hallux valgus (bunions) in 8 days and in hip arthroplasty in 5 days.

On the other hand, knee arthroplasty, heart valve surgery, coronary bypass and hysterectomy, which add up to a total of 37,140 patients (4.4% of the total list), with 2,407 patients less than in December 2024 and 1,945 patients less than in June 2025. The average waiting time for these processes is 54 days for coronary bypass, 71 days for heart valve surgery, 105 days for knee replacement, and 114 days for hysterectomy.

Processes with maximum access time guarantee

The five processes included with maximum time guarantee (180 days) They are coronary bypass, cardiac valve surgery and knee prosthesis, in addition to hip and cataract prostheses that were already contemplated in RD 605/2003. For coronary bypass, the average waiting time is 54 days and increases by 9 days compared to the same period in 2024. 1.6% of patients wait more than the established 180 days.

In valvular heart surgery the average waiting time is 71 days and increases by 6 days. 6.9% of patients wait more than 180 days. As for cataracts, the average waiting time is 68 days and decreases by 1 day. 2.6% of patients have been waiting for more than 180 days.

For hip prostheses, the average waiting time is 98 days, with 5 days less than in 2024. 13.7% wait more than 180 days. The average waiting time for a knee prosthesis is 105 days, 14 days less than in December 2024), with 15.9% of patients waiting more than 180 days.

A slight increase in waiting for external consultations

As for the external consultations84.42 out of every 1,000 people were registered on a waiting list for a first consultation in Specialized Hospital Care. This rate is 1.2 points higher than that of December 2024 and up to 3 points compared to six months ago. The average waiting time for these patients is 102 days, 3 days less than in the December 2024 cut-off, but 6 days more than in June. The proportion of patients who had an appointment date assigned for more than 60 days is 61.5%.

The shortest times are observed in General Surgery with an average waiting time of 61 days, Gynecology with 64 days and Cardiology with 68 days. The specialties with the longest waiting times are: Traumatology with 132 days and Dermatology with 127 days.

Data by CCAA in surgery lists and consultations

The national average is 17.69 per 1,000 inhabitants. By Autonomous Community, Cantabria leads with a rate of 24.92 (14,490 patients on the list, 137 days waiting), followed closely by Catalonia with 24.84 per inhabitant. (197,768 patients, 142 days); La Rioja with 23.80 (7,822 patients, 78 days); Andalusia with a rate of 23.51 (199,950 patients, 173 days); Asturias with 22.12 (22,402 patients, 91 days); Extremadura with 21.96 (22,404 patients, 135 days); Murcia with 21.52 (34,197 patients, 103 days), Galicia with 18.82 (49,554 patients, 73 days), Aragón with 18.71 (25,783 patients, 132 days) and Castilla-La Mancha with 18.06 (36,260 patients, 92 days).

Below the national average are Navarra with a rate of 16.08 (10,861 patients, 96 days), the Canary Islands with 14.59 (32,131 patients, 106 days) and the Balearic Islands with 13.62 (17,075 patients, 105 days). Closing the list with the lowest rates is Melilla with 12.73 (901 patients, 82 days), Ceuta with 12.12 (931 patients, 94 days), Madrid with 11.23 (80,525 patients, 50 days), the Basque Country with 10.81 (24,069 patients, 64 days), Castilla y León with 10.57 (24,786 patients, 87 days) and, finally, the Valencian Community with the lowest rate of 9.91 (51,600 patients, 88 days).

Madrid tops the list with the highest rate, 134.69 (68 days average wait), followed by Asturias with 115.03 (103 days) and Andalusia with 100.27 (136 days). Navarra is next with a rate of 90.58 (152 days), Extremadura with 90.46 (112 days) and Aragón with 90.33 (138 days). In the middle section we find the Valencian Community with a rate of 83.35 (95 days), Castilla y León with 78.93 (102 days), Galicia with 77.94 (63 days) and the Balearic Islands with 72.30 (71 days).

With rates lower than the national average (84.42 per 1,000 inhabitants) are Murcia with 70.53 (89 days), the Canary Islands with 65.25 (the highest wait with 162 days), Cantabria with 64.20 (61 days) and Catalonia with 64.00 (120 days). Ceuta closes the statistics with a rate of 57.04 (72 days), the Basque Country with 33.96 (49 days), Castilla-La Mancha with 26.29 (64 days), La Rioja with 25.81 (32 days) and Melilla, which registers the lowest values ​​with a rate of 13.26 and only 16 days of average waiting.