Referral to treatment (RTT)

The NHS measure of the time from a referral to the start of consultant-led treatment.

Referral to treatment (RTT) is the NHS measure of the time from referral to the start of consultant-led treatment. The clock starts when the NHS receives a referral for consultant-led care and stops when treatment begins, or when it is decided that treatment is not needed. The NHS Constitution standard in England is that 92% of patients should start treatment within 18 weeks. NHS England publishes the number of pathways waiting and the proportion within 18 weeks every month. It counts pathways rather than people, so one patient waiting for two treatments appears twice. RTT matters for private medical insurance because policies with a six-week option only pay for private treatment when the NHS wait for it is longer than six weeks.

Guides that use this term

• How are NHS referral-to-treatment waiting times counted?
• How do NHS waiting lists actually work?
• How do NHS waiting times differ across the UK?
• How long are NHS waiting times right now?
• What are your rights while waiting for NHS treatment?
• Can you switch from an NHS waiting list to private treatment?
• Does going private affect your NHS care?
• What is NHS patient choice and how do you use it?