Canberra Hospital emergency department waiting times

Average emergency department wait times for Canberra Hospital

According to data from the ACT Government, the average wait time for patients seeking treatment via Canberra Hospital emergency department was 30 minutes in February 2025. However, this varied depending on triage category.

The average wait times for Canberra Hospital emergency department, according to triage category, are as follows:

• Category 1 (resuscitation): 0 minutes
• Category 2 (emergency): 9 minutes
• Category 3 (urgent): 35 minutes
• Category 4 (semi-urgent): 43 minutes
• Category 5 (non-urgent): 46 minutes

In February 2025, Canberra Hospital had a longer average wait time than North Canberra Hospital, which had an average wait time of 20 minutes.

How emergency department wait times are calculated

Emergency department wait times are calculated based on the time between a patient's arrival at the emergency department and when they first receive care.

Patients may see a medical professional to be triaged before they receive care, but the average waiting times are calculated based on when care begins - not when triage occurs.

What affects how long you'll have to wait

The triage category you are signed will have a significant impact on how long you'll have to wait. Patients are allocated a triage category based on the time in which they need medical attention - however, these benchmarks are not always met.

In February 2025, 56% of patients presenting at Canberra Hospital emergency department received treatment within the recommended time frame. The recommended time frames, and percentage of patients who received treatment within that time frame, are listed below.

The data above represents admissions to Canberra Hospital in February 2025.

Other factors can also affect how long you wait at the emergency department, including:

• Patient volume
• Stagging shortages
• Day of the week
• Time of the day or night
• Critical incidents or mass casualties

When to go to the ED vs when to go to the doctor

The emergency department is intended for serious and urgent medical conditions. Some common reasons for attending the emergency department include:

This list is not exhaustive and if you think your life is at risk, you should call 000 for help immediately. However, there are lots of alternatives for situations that not require urgent or emergency healthcare, including:

• Walk-in clinic or urgent care clinic
• An after-hours home visit from a doctor
• Speak with your GP or pharmacist
• Call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria)
• Call a mental health service such as Beyond Blue for non-urgent mental health advice

Comparing public and private ED options in Canberra

In February 2025, Canberra Hospital emergency department had an average wait time of 30 minutes, while North Canberra Hospital emergency department had an average wait time of 20 minutes.There are no emergency departments within private hospitals in Canberra.

FAQs

• What is the average emergency department wait time at Canberra Hospital?

  In February 2025, Canberra Hospital emergency department had an average wait time of 30 minutes

• Are Canberra’s Hospital wait times getting worse?

  No. In the 12 months leading up to, and including, February 2025, the average wait time at Canberra Hospital emergency department was always between 26 and 33 minutes.

• Is there a private emergency department in Canberra?

  There are no fully operational private emergency departments in Canberra but Calvary Bruce Private Hospital does offer some emergency care.

• When should I go to the ED vs a walk-in clinic?

  The emergency department is for life-threatening or serious conditions. Walk-in centres are for minor illnesses, infections and injuries.

• How can I check Canberra ED wait times?

  Canberra Health Services updates emergency department wait times in real time. You can check them on the ACT government website.

• Do I need private health insurance for emergency care?

  No, you don't need private health insurance for emergency care. It's covered by Medicare. However, if you go to a private emergency department, you will likely incur some out-of-pocket costs.

Written by

Nicola Middlemiss

Journalist

Nicola Middlemiss is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience in personal finance and insurance. She has contributed to Domain, Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine and Insurance Business Australia, offering in-depth insights into commercial insurance in the Australian market. Nicola holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Leeds and a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification, which complies with ASIC standards. See full bio

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