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
If you or someone near you has a life-threatening medical emergency, call 999 immediately or go to your nearest emergency department.
You should only go to a hospital emergency department if you, a friend or relative has a medical emergency.
For urgent treatment which is not immediately life threatening, patients should use the ‘Phone first’ service.
The service is available in all Health and Social Care Trusts:
Further information is available at:
Emergency department waiting times
Waiting times at emergency departments can change quickly without warning. The table on this page lists average waiting times to be seen.
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, Saturday 4 May 2024.
Hospital/Unit | Opening hours | Average waiting time to be seen |
---|---|---|
Mater Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 487 mins |
Royal Victoria Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 480 mins |
Royal Childrens Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 30 mins |
Antrim Area Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 310 mins |
Causeway Area Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 382 mins |
Mid Ulster Hospital - Minor Injury Unit | Open Mon-Fri 9.00 am-5.00 pm | Currently Closed |
Craigavon Area Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 239 mins |
Daisy Hill Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 255 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 | 178 mins |
South West Acute Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 44 mins |
Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex - Urgent care and treatment Centre | Open 24 hours every day | Not Available |
The 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.
Other healthcare services
There are other healthcare services that give expert care to treat your medical condition.
Picking the most suitable service for your symptoms means you get the right treatment in the right place.
- Emergency healthcare
- How to use to your health services
- Community pharmacists
- Your local doctor (GP)
- GP online services
- GP out of hours service