What happens at A&E
Knowing how the department works makes the wait easier. This is how it goes at almost every A&E in England.
1. You book in
Reception takes your name, date of birth and what has happened. If you arrive by ambulance, the crew hands over to staff and you may wait in a different area.
2. Triage: a nurse assesses you
A nurse sees you soon after booking in, usually within 15 minutes, to work out how urgent your condition is. This is not your treatment; it decides your place in the queue. The most urgent are seen first, however long anyone else has been there.
3. You wait to be seen
The published wait is the longest wait for people whose condition is not urgent. Someone arriving after you may go in before you because their condition is more serious. If you feel worse, tell reception; you can be reassessed at any time.
4. Tests, treatment and the decision
You may have blood tests, an X-ray or a scan, and wait for the results. Then a doctor or practitioner decides whether you go home with advice, come back to a clinic, or are admitted. The four-hour figure on this site counts the time from arrival to that decision.
The average A&E wait in England, September 2026
60% of 1,475,440 people who went to a 24-hour A&E were seen, treated and admitted or sent home within 4 hours. That is the national measure; there is no single published "average wait" in minutes. The shortest and longest waits by department, and live waits where hospitals publish them.
NHS England figures, . Checked for new figures . About the data.
What to bring
- A list of your medicines, or the boxes.
- Your NHS number if you know it, and any letter or card about a long-term condition.
- A phone charger, a drink and something to do.
- For a child: their red book, a drink, a snack if they are allowed to eat, and a comfort item.
If the wait is very long
- Tell staff if you get worse. Do not leave without saying.
- If your problem is minor and you are well enough, an urgent treatment centre, a pharmacist, your GP or 111 online may be quicker.
- Children's A&Es are often shorter waits for children; some hospitals have a separate one.
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.