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.
Last updated: 9.00 pm, Saturday 23 September 2023.
Hospital/Unit | Opening hours | Average waiting time to be seen |
---|---|---|
Mater Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 100 mins |
Royal Victoria Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 147 mins |
Royal Childrens Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 96 mins |
Antrim Area Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 130 mins |
Causeway Area Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 216 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 | 79 mins |
Daisy Hill Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 102 mins |
South Tyrone Hospital - Minor Injury Unit | Open Mon-Fri 9.00 am-9.00 pm; Sat-Sun 10.00 am-6.00 pm | Currently Closed |
Downe Hospital - Mon-Fri PHONE FIRST Urgent Care Centre | Open Mon-Fri 8.00 am-6.00 pm | Currently Closed |
Downe Minor Injuries Unit - Sat-Sun PHONE FIRST Minor Injuries | Open Sat-Sun 9.00 am–5.00 pm | Currently Closed |
Lagan Valley Hospital - PHONE FIRST Emergency Department | Open Mon-Fri 8.00 am-6.00 pm | Currently Closed |
Ulster Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 78 mins |
Ards Minor Injuries Unit - PHONE FIRST Minor Injury Unit | Open Mon-Fri 9.00 am-5.00 pm | Currently Closed |
Bangor Minor Injuries Unit - Minor Injury Unit | Bangor Minor Injuries Unit is currently closed | Not Available |
Altnagelvin Area Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 52 mins |
South West Acute Hospital - Emergency Department | Open 24 hours every day | 93 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