Aims: Remaining bone stock at revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) determines the procedure and is related to outcome. This study was carried out to determine the radiological effect on bone stock of patients waiting for surgery. Methods: The hospital notes and AP pelvic radiographs of all (19) patients (22 hips) who underwent revision surgery for symptomatic aseptic loosening of a heterogeneous group of THAs over the last 2 years were obtained. The Hahnemann University Hospital (HUH) Classification and Staging System for Revision THA (a purely radiological classification that evaluates both the acetabular and the femoral bone stock, any component instability and sepsis and that correlates well with functional outcome) was used to evaluate bone stock on the initial clinic and the immediate preoperative radiographs. The effect of delay on the planned procedure was also recorded. Results: The average time delay for all patients was 57 weeks. 12/22 hips deteriorated radiologically by an average of 1.3 points (range 1–3) on the HUH Classification. In 7/12 it altered the procedure to be carried out. Conclusions: This preliminary study suggests that a delay to revision hip surgery is associated with a reduction in bone stock and hence potential functional outcome. It can also detrimentally affect the planned procedure. This study reinforces the need for minimal delay in symptomatic patients with aseptic loosening of THA.