Emergency department average waiting times
Hospital emergency departments treat and care for people with a serious injury or life-threatening condition. When you go for treatment, staff will assess your medical condition. They treat patients with a serious injury or life-threatening condition first. Waiting times can change quickly.
When you have a medical emergency
You should only go to a hospital emergency department if you, a friend or relative has a medical emergency.
Emergency departments are also known as Accident and emergency (A and E) or casualty departments.
If you or someone near you has a life-threatening medical emergency, call 999 immediately or go to your nearest emergency department.
To find local emergency departments, go to:
'Phone First' Service
Patients including children who are feeling unwell and considering travelling to the following Hospital Emergency Departments for urgent treatment which is not immediately life threatening should Phone First:
- Antrim Area Hospital Emergency Department
- Causeway Hospital Emergency Department
- Craigavon Area Hospital Emergency Department
- Daisy Hill Hospital Emergency Department
- Downe Hospital
- Lagan Valley Hospital
- Mid Ulster Minor Injuries Unit
- South Tyrone Hospital Minor Injuries Unit, Dungannon
Other healthcare services
There are other healthcare services that give expert care to treat your medical condition. Picking the service most appropriate to your symptoms means you get the right treatment in the right place.
Waiting for treatment at an emergency department
Waiting times at emergency departments can change quickly without warning. The table on this page lists average waiting times to be seen.
These times are calculated based on the average waiting times of patients in the previous four hour period. These times cannot be guaranteed and you may need to wait longer than the time shown.
This information is updated hourly.
Due to the switchover to the new encompass system, waiting times for emergency departments in the South Eastern Trust area are temporarily unavailable.
Last updated: 11.00 am, Friday 29 March 2024.
Hospital/Unit | Opening hours | Average waiting time to be seen |
---|---|---|
Mater Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 96 mins |
Royal Victoria Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 349 mins |
Royal Childrens Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 170 mins |
Antrim Area Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 276 mins |
Causeway Area Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 246 mins |
Mid Ulster Hospital - Minor Injury Unit | Open Mon-Fri 9.00 am-5.00 pm | 3 mins |
Craigavon Area Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 497 mins |
Daisy Hill Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 124 mins |
South Tyrone Hospital - Minor Injury Unit | Open Mon-Fri 9.00 am-9.00 pm; Sat-Sun 10.00 am-6.00 pm | Update Pending |
Downe Hospital - Mon-Fri PHONE FIRST Urgent Care Centre | Open Mon-Fri 8.00 am-6.00 pm | Not Available |
Downe Minor Injuries Unit - Sat-Sun PHONE FIRST Minor Injuries | Open Sat-Sun 9.00 am–5.00 pm | Not Available |
Lagan Valley Hospital - PHONE FIRST Emergency Department | Open Mon-Fri 8.00 am-6.00 pm | Not Available |
Ulster Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | Not Available |
Altnagelvin Area Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 204 mins |
South West Acute Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 64 mins |
Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex - Urgent care and treatment Centre | Open 24 hours every day | Not Available |
Hospital services
Each hospital provides different types of emergency services. Find the facility most suitable for getting the treatment you need:
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Hospitals within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust are:
- Mater Hospital
- Royal Victoria Hospital
- Royal Children’s Hospital
Northern Health and Social Care Trust
Hospitals within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust are:
- Antrim Area Hospital
- Causeway Area Hospital
- Mid Ulster Hospital
Southern Health and Social Care Trust
Hospitals within the Southern Health and Social Care Trust are:
- Craigavon Area Hospital
- Daisy Hill Hospital
- South Tyrone Hospital
South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust
Hospitals within the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust are:
- Downe Hospital
- Lagan Valley Hospital
- Ulster Hospital
Western Health and Social Care Trust
Hospitals within the Western Health and Social Care Trust are:
- Altnagelvin Hospital
- South West Acute Hospital
- Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex