The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has warned that gynaecology waiting lists in England continue to grow, despite overall elective waiting lists falling, and continues to call for the national rollout of Women’s Health Hubs following a visit to a pioneering service in Tower Hamlets.
New NHS England data for December 2025 shows the total gynaecology waiting list now stands at 570,339, placing it among the five largest waiting lists across all elective specialties. Waiting lists have risen this month from 563,359 to 570,739, and just 57% of women are seen within the Government’s 18-week standard, four percentage points below the elective average. Gynaecology referrals account for 7% of all elective referrals.
While the scale of the challenge remains significant, the College said a recent visit to the Tower Hamlets Women’s Health Hub demonstrates how redesigned, community-based services can improve access and reduce pressure on hospitals.
The data shows that while waiting lists in North East London remain high, with nearly 22,000 women waiting for gynaecology care, they have steadily declined since December 2024, one year after the hub opened.
Before the hub launched in December 2023, 85% of women referred for gynaecology care locally were seen in hospital, with only 15% managed in primary care with specialist input. In its first year, the hub managed 3,500 referrals, with just 25% requiring hospital-based care – a 60% reduction compared with the previous model.
The hub brings together multidisciplinary expertise and delivers care closer to home, enabling earlier assessment, more joined-up pathways and faster access to the right support.
Dr Alison Wright, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said:
“The Tower Hamlets Women’s Health Hub gives me a real sense of optimism about what can be achieved through truly patient-centred, multi-professional care, despite the wider challenges facing women’s health and the NHS.
“It shows that excellent care is possible when professionals collaborate across primary, secondary and community services, with the right funding, workforce and administrative support in place. Women’s health hubs can reduce unnecessary hospital referrals, help tackle gynaecology waiting lists, and ensure women receive timely care closer to home where appropriate.
“The Tower Hamlets Hub also demonstrates how improving access for those who have historically faced barriers to care, can play a vital role in addressing long-standing health inequalities.”
Dr Ishi Bains, the co-clinical lead for the Tower Hamlets Women’s Health Hub and GP, said:
"We were delighted to welcome the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists team to the Tower Hamlets Women’s Health Hub."The visit was an invaluable opportunity to show how collaboration between primary, secondary and community care can result in improved care for women in East London."
Rushanara Ali MP for Bethnal Green and Stepney said:
“It was an absolute pleasure to visit Tower Hamlets Women’s Health Hub based in Mile End Hospital to discuss the experiences of women accessing gynaecological healthcare in my constituency and to discuss how we can share the learnings of the work of the Tower Hamlet’s Women Health Hub to improve women’s healthcare across the country.
“The team at Tower Hamlets Women’s Heath Hub have developed innovative ways of redesigning services to improve access and reduce pressure on hospitals. This pioneering model is helping women access diagnosis and treatment faster and closer to home. I am incredibly grateful to the clinical leads and their team for their hard work and dedication in all they are doing to improve women’s health and for spreading this excellent model of healthcare across Northeast London.’
The RCOG has warned that Women’s Health Hubs remain vulnerable without stable, long-term funding and consistent commissioning. The College is calling on the Government to protect and expand Women’s Health Hubs like the one in Tower Hamlets as a core part of the renewed Women’s Health Strategy - so women can access high-quality, equitable care throughout their lives.
- Access the RCOG’s elective waiting list data dashboard here: RCOG Waiting times
- Read the RCOG’s New Year: Still waiting for a way forward report here: New Year: Still Waiting For A Way Forward
- Access more information about the Tower Hamlets hub here: About our Women's Health Hubs - NHS North East London