Emergency Department Wait Times in Australia

Emergency department wait times: what does that actually mean?

Many would assume the term "emergency department wait time" refers to the time a person spends sitting in the ED before being seen by a doctor or nurse. However, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), defines it as:

"Emergency department waiting time is the time elapsed for each patient from presentation to the ED to commencement of clinical care."

Under this definition, a patient is considered to have been "seen on time" where the time between arriving at the ED and the time when they receive clinical care falls within the timeframe assigned to their triage category. We'll explore hospital triage categories later on.

How long are ED wait times in Australia right now?

At a glance, there were 9 million presentations to the ED between 2023 and 2024. Of those 9 million patients, 67% were seen in time.

• Emergency department wait times

According to the AIHW, 50% of patients were seen within 18 minutes, a lower median wait time from 2022-23 (20 minutes). 90% of patients were seen within 1 hour and 57 minutes and was also lower than the waiting time for 2022–23 (2 hours and 4 minutes).

• Total time spent in the emergency department

Despite patients being seen within their designated timeframe, the AIHW recorded an increase in the total time patients spent in the emergency department in 2023-24. 90% of ED visits were completed within 10 hours and 45 minutes, a 3 hour and 15 minute increase since 2019-20.

90% of ED visits for patients admitted to the hospital were also completed in 18 hours 17 minutes, a drastic increase of 7 hours from 2019–20. Based on these figures, if you are told by a nurse or doctor that you need to be admitted, you can expect to be waiting longer than a standard screening.

How ED triage affects how long you wait

When you visit the emergency department across any hospital in Australia, triage nurses will allocate you a triage category, which provides more insight into the time in which you need medical attention.

These triage categories are:

• Triage Category 1

Patients who fall into this category require immediate treatment and must be seen ASAP. These are people who are in life-threatening conditions, like cardiac arrest or serious injuries.

• Triage Category 2

Patients classified as Category 2 are recognised as having an imminently life-threatening condition and must be seen within 10 minutes. Things like chest pains, difficulty breathing or broken bones or fractures often fall into this category.

• Triage Category 3

Patients referred to as Category 3 required treatment within 30 minutes and are recorded as having a potentially life-threatening condition, such as severe pain that requires pain relief, heaving bleeding, significant fractures or dehydration.

• Triage Category 4

These are patients who will be in a moderate condition and will need treatment within an hour. Typical Category 4 cases include people who are vomiting or have diarrhoea, eye inflammation or minor limb trauma.

• Triage Category 5

These are patients who will need treatment within 2 hours and are recognised as having a less urgent condition. People who fall into this category have minor symptoms or illnesses, including minor pain or rashes.

ED wait times by state and territory — does your state have the worst wait time?

The AIHW annually records ED performance across all states and territories, categorising the data between the 50th and 90th percentile. This provides a more complete picture of the patient experience.

To give you an idea of how long you could be waiting for, we've outlined the last ED wait times below:

Why are ED wait times so long in Australia?

Australia's emergency departments are under more pressure than ever, and anyone who's sat in the waiting room for hours can feel it. But the long ED wait times we're seeing across the country aren't caused by one single issue, they're the result of several parts of the health system straining at once.

• Rising demand with more patients presenting

During the last year, patients presenting to the ED has risen from 8.8 million to 9 million in the last year. Aside from the growth in the number of people requiring emergency care, case complexity has also shifted. With the rise in chronic illness diagnoses and mental health awareness, cases can tie up staff, which slows down the whole system.

• "Bed-block" and hospital capacity shortages

A big driver is that patients who need to be admitted to hospital wards often end up stuck in the ED because there's no available bed, commonly known as "bed block." Because of these capacity issues, the ED becomes a bottleneck: while patients await beds and new arrivals accumulate, increasing waiting times for everyone.

• Under-resourcing: staff shortages and limited alternatives

Many hospitals are operating at, or even beyond, capacity. That leaves very little buffer to handle surges in demand. There's also limited capacity in community-based care and after-hours GPs or urgent-care alternatives, which pushes people with non-life-threatening issues to use EDs instead.

• Misuse of the ED by patients

What originally was meant for life-threatening emergencies is being used for a variety of non-serious health needs, such as chronic illness flare-ups, aged care issues or a lack of after-hours care. Again, because there are no alternatives, many people end up in EDs even when their condition isn't strictly "urgent."

When to go to the ED vs your GP or urgent care

Misusing the ED is one of the core reasons wait times have become so extreme. While it's incredibly important to visit the ED if you believe your life is in danger, there are some situations that don't always require immediate medical attention.

Some scenarios where you must visit the emergency department include:

• Heart attack or stroke
• Severe unexplained pain
• Serious injuries or broken bones
• Problems with breathing or bleeding
• Loss of consciousness or fitting
• Allergic reactions
• Severe mental health concerns
• Drug overdoses or poisoning
• Burns or near-drowning incidents
• Pregnancy complications

If you are facing a non-life-threatening crisis, there are many alternative options available rather than visiting the ED, including:

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

How to check emergency department wait times near you

During life-threatening emergencies, chances are you won't need to check wait times as you should be seen immediately. However, if you are presenting to the ED in a semi-urgent or moderate condition, having a quick scan of how long you could be waiting can help you prepare for your visit.

Various websites exist across different states, allowing you to check the latest wait time data for your nearest hospital.

While these sites can give you a rough idea of your wait time, keep in mind these are still estimates and if there are other emergencies that come through, they will be seen first.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the average emergency department wait time in Australia?

  According to the AIHW's national average, the median ED wait time was 18 minutes, with 90% of patients being seen within 1 hour and 57 minutes.

• Why are emergency department wait times so long in Australia?

  Emergency department wait times in Australia are long because several parts of the system are being strained at once. Bed block slows the flow of patients into wards, causing EDs to back up. Rising demand from a growing, ageing population adds pressure, while workforce shortages limit how many patients can be treated.

  At the same time, gaps in mental health and aged-care services push people into EDs who have nowhere else to go, overwhelming capacity across the country.

• How can I check emergency department wait times near me?

  You can check emergency department wait times by visiting your state's health website or using its real-time hospital dashboard. Many states, like NSW, Victoria, Queensland and WA, publish live ED wait times, current demand levels and estimated treatment delays. Keep in mind some states do not have live dashboards or display real-time data online.

• Are private emergency departments faster?

  Private emergency departments aren't automatically faster. Triage rules apply everywhere, so life-threatening cases are treated first whether you're in a public or private ED. However, some private EDs can have shorter waits for non-urgent issues because they see fewer patients overall. The trade-off is cost, as private EDs usually charge out-of-pocket fees, even with private health insurance.

• Do I have to pay to go to ED in Australia?

  Public hospital emergency departments are covered by Medicare, so the visit itself is free. However, you may still face ambulance fees (unless you're covered by a concession) and out-of-pocket costs if you choose a private ED, which usually charges attendance fees not covered by Medicare.

• Should I ever avoid ED because of long wait times?

  No. If your symptoms are serious, worsening or feel like an emergency, you should always go to ED or call an ambulance, even if wait times are long. Emergencies must be assessed and treated immediately and delaying care can be dangerous.

Written by

Ceyda Erem

Senior writer

Ceyda Erem is Finder’s senior writer for insurance and has almost 10 years of experience writing about personal finance. Formerly a copywriter for several business and finance clients, Ceyda has written hundreds of articles, guides, blogs and more to ensure Australians stay in the loop about how to best manage their money. She has a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Writing from Macquarie University. See full bio

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