Emergency department average waiting times

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: 

• Emergency healthcare

'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.

• How to use to your health services

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.

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

More useful links

• Community pharmacists
• Your local doctor (GP)
• GP online services
• GP out of hours service