Emergency Department
Wait Times Australia
Average wait times at major Australian emergency departments, based on publicly reported AIHW data. Non-urgent conditions? Skip the wait entirely with a telehealth certificate.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 000 immediately.
This page is for informational purposes. DoccyMed telehealth is for non-emergency conditions only.
New South Wales
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
3h 20min
Westmead Hospital
3h 45min
St Vincent's Hospital
2h 50min
John Hunter Hospital
3h 10min
Understanding Triage Categories
Category 1 — Resuscitation
Life-threatening conditions requiring immediate treatment.
Target: ImmediateCategory 2 — Emergency
Conditions that could become life-threatening. Severe pain.
Target: < 10 minutesCategory 3 — Urgent
Serious conditions needing urgent care but not immediately life-threatening.
Target: < 30 minutesCategory 4 — Semi-urgent
Conditions that require treatment within 1-2 hours. Moderate pain.
Target: < 60 minutesCategory 5 — Non-urgent
Minor conditions. Could be seen by a GP. Often the longest wait.
Target: < 120 minutesData source: Wait time averages are based on publicly available data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and state health department reports. Actual wait times may vary significantly based on time of day, day of week, and current patient volume. These figures represent median wait times and are updated periodically.