Royal Children's Hospital — Current A&E Queue
Last updated just now · sourced from HSC Northern Ireland
Typical Time in Department (AE)
minutes · ~ 2 hr 40 min
+6 min vs previous reading
Hospital details
- City
- Belfast
- Opening Hours
- Open 24 hours every day
- NHS Trust
- HSC Northern Ireland
- Type
- Accident & Emergency (Type 1)
Royal Children's Hospital A&E Wait Times — Last 24 Hours
| Time | Typical Time in Dept | Change | Patients | Total in Dept |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| just now21:38 | 2 hr 40 min | +6 min(+4%) | — | — |
| 25 min ago21:12 | 2 hr 34 min | +33 min(+27%) | — | — |
| 59 min ago20:39 | 2 hr 1 min | +12 min(+11%) | — | — |
| 1h ago20:14 | 1 hr 49 min | -3 min(-3%) | — | — |
| 1h ago19:44 | 1 hr 52 min | 0 min(0%) | — | — |
| 1h ago19:41 | 1 hr 52 min | 0 min(0%) | — | — |
| 2h ago19:36 | 1 hr 52 min | -3 min(-3%) | — | — |
| 2h ago19:11 | 1 hr 55 min | -106 min(-48%) | — | — |
| 2h ago18:42 | 3 hr 41 min | +27 min(+14%) | — | — |
| 3h ago18:17 | 3 hr 14 min | +70 min(+56%) | — | — |
| 4h ago17:37 | 2 hr 4 min | +63 min(+103%) | — | — |
| 4h ago17:12 | 1 hr 1 min | -7 min(-10%) | — | — |
Royal Children's Hospital in context
The latest reading puts Royal Children's Hospital at roughly 2 hr 40 min. Across Northern Ireland the typical figure is around 2 hr 10 min. That places it roughly in line with neighbouring departments.
Wondering whether you actually need A&E?Common Questions About Royal Children's Hospital
How long is the queue at Royal Children's Hospital right now?
The most recent figure shows roughly 2 hr 40 min (160 minutes) at Royal Children's Hospital's A&E. This is pulled from the trust's public dashboard and refreshes regularly, but the actual time you wait will depend on how urgently you need treatment and how busy the department is when you arrive.
What are Royal Children's Hospital's opening hours?
The A&E at Royal Children's Hospital runs around the clock — 24 hours, seven days a week, bank holidays included. No appointment is needed; patients are assessed on arrival and seen in order of clinical urgency, not arrival time.
Do I actually need A&E, or could a UTC near Belfast be faster?
A&E at Royal Children's Hospital is the right place for anything that could be life-threatening — chest pain, stroke symptoms, uncontrolled bleeding, serious breathing problems or major injuries. For less severe issues (sprains, small cuts, minor fractures, bites, burns), a nearby Urgent Treatment Centre will almost always see you sooner. If you are unsure, ring 111 — they can point you to the best service and sometimes book you a timed slot.
How do I get to Royal Children's Hospital?
Royal Children's Hospital is in Belfast. Use the location search on this site to see the distance from where you are and compare it against other departments nearby.
When is Royal Children's Hospital A&E typically quietest?
Nationally, emergency departments see the fewest arrivals between about 6 am and 9 am. Demand tends to peak on Monday mornings, weekday evenings after 6 pm, and on Friday and Saturday nights. Arriving during a quieter window — if your condition allows it — can noticeably cut the time you spend waiting.
Other Departments Nearby
0.2 km
Royal Victoria Hospital
Belfast
~ 3 hr 32 min
1.5 km
Mater Hospital
Belfast
~ 3 hr 9 min
2.5 km
Lagan Valley Hospital
Lisburn
UTCAvg: 26 min
7.3 km
Ulster Hospital
Dundonald
~ 3 hr 59 min
23.8 km
Antrim Area Hospital
Antrim
~ 2 hr 17 min
Queue Colour Guide
Related guides
Page content is periodically verified against official sources. All queue data comes from NHS Trust dashboards and government statistical releases.