This research summary outlines recent King's Fund work on waiting times, supported by the Department of Health. The research set out to learn from three groups of hospitals: those that have proved able to sustain reductions in waiting times; those with variable performance and those with a poor record on reducing waiting times. Some factors emerged as particularly important in achieving and sustaining reductions in waiting times at a local level: a sustained focus on the task, organisationally and through management and clinical effort; an understanding of the nature of waiting lists and how they form part of a whole system of care; the importance of detailed information, analysis, forecasting, monitoring and planning and the development of appropriate capacity. [SMD]