Waiting list
WAY-ting list /ˈweɪtɪŋ lɪst/
Neutral Neutral
What it really means
The queue for non-urgent NHS hospital treatment after a referral. Waits can be weeks or months depending on the treatment and area. Urgent cases are prioritised. If your condition gets worse while waiting, tell your GP.
Chinese explanation
候诊名单：转诊后等待NHS医院非紧急治疗的队列。视治疗项目和地区不同，可能要等数周到数月，紧急情况会优先。等待期间病情加重要告诉GP。
Example conversation
A: The hospital says I'm on the waiting list for the operation.
B: Did they say roughly how long? If things get worse, go back to your GP.
A：医院说我已经在手术的候诊名单上了。
B：他们说大概要等多久吗？要是病情加重，就再去找你的GP。
What you could say back
No spoken reply needed for this one.
Related phrases
Official sources
Rules and amounts change — confirm important details with the official source.
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· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake