Colchester Hospital A&E: 6 in 10 people were seen within 4 hours in September 2026.
6,695 people attended in September 2026. Everyone is assessed soon after arriving and seen in order of urgency.
Drive there Public transportA&E at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
For life-threatening medical emergencies, call 999 immediately.
Chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, signs of a stroke, a seizure that does not stop, or someone who cannot be woken. Call 999 rather than driving to A&E.
If you call 999 from here
East of England Ambulance Service answers most 999 calls in this area. In September 2026 it reached life-threatening calls in 9 minutes on average (target 7) and serious calls such as stroke or chest pain in 41 minutes on average, 9 in 10 within 88 minutes. England: 8 and 31 minutes.
35% of ambulance handovers at hospitals in this service's area took over 30 minutes (England 27%). Figures are for the whole ambulance service, not this hospital alone.
NHS England figures, . Checked for new figures . About the data.
September 2026 at Colchester Hospital
57% of people were seen, treated and admitted or sent home within 4 hours
6,695 visits in the month. Postcode CO4 5JL. Part of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust.
NHS England figures, . Checked for new figures . About the data.
Where should I go?
- Life-threatening (chest pain, trouble breathing, heavy bleeding, signs of a stroke, a fit that does not stop, someone who cannot be woken): call 999.
- An injury or illness that cannot wait but is not life-threatening: A&E, or an urgent treatment centre, which is often quicker for cuts, sprains, minor burns and minor breaks.
- Not sure how urgent it is: 111 online or call 111. They can book you a slot at the right place.
- Minor (coughs, colds, rashes, aches): a pharmacist can help without an appointment.
Questions people ask
How long is the wait at Colchester Hospital A&E right now?
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust does not publish a live figure. In September 2026, 57% of the 6,695 people who attended were seen, treated and admitted or sent home within 4 hours.
Is Colchester Hospital A&E busy?
6,695 people attended in September 2026, about 223 a day. A&E is usually busiest in the late afternoon and evening and quietest in the early morning, and everyone is seen in order of urgency, not arrival.
Where is Colchester Hospital A&E?
Colchester Hospital, CO4 5JL, Colchester. Use the Drive or Public transport button for directions from where you are. In an emergency call 999: an ambulance crew decides the right hospital.