NHS Furness General Hospital Live A&E Waiting Times
Also known as: Furness General Hospital, FGH, Barrow Hospital, Barrow A&E
Last updated sourced from University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
Hospital details
Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 4LF
About Furness General Hospital
Furness General Hospital (FGH) is the main acute hospital for the Furness peninsula and South Lakes, located on Dalton Lane in Barrow-in-Furness and operated by University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT). Because of the peninsula's geography — the next acute sites at Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Westmorland General Hospital are over an hour away — FGH is the critical front door for serious illness and injury in Barrow, Ulverston, Dalton-in-Furness and the wider South Cumbria coast. The 24/7 Emergency Department sits alongside Critical Care, the South Lakes Birth Centre maternity unit, paediatrics, inpatient and day-case surgery, cardiology, dermatology, gynaecology, orthopaedics, respiratory and urology services. Current Furness General A&E waiting times are tracked here in real time, sourced from the NHS England feed and UHMBT.
Emergency Department (A&E)
An Emergency Department (also called A&E) is the right place for life-threatening or serious conditions - chest pain, suspected stroke, heavy bleeding, severe breathing difficulty, major injury, or loss of consciousness. If you're unsure, call NHS 111 first; they can advise you and book you in if needed. In a true emergency, call 999.
Departments & Services
- Emergency Department (24/7)
- Critical Care
- Acute Medicine
- Acute Surgery
- South Lakes Birth Centre (Maternity)
- Paediatrics
- Cardiology
- Stroke Services
- General Surgery
- Trauma and Orthopaedics
Recent Wait Time Updates
| Date & Time | Wait Time | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 25 Apr01:47 | 166 mins | −44% |
| Sat 25 Apr00:47 | 297 mins | +17% |
| Fri 24 Apr23:47 | 254 mins | +42% |
| Fri 24 Apr22:47 | 179 mins | +44% |
| Fri 24 Apr21:47 | 124 mins | +8.8% |
Nearest A&E alternatives
See live A&E wait times at other NHS hospitals near Furness General Hospital
How Furness General Hospital compares to nearby hospitals
Within North West, Furness General Hospital is one of several urgent and emergency care sites and sits inside the wider NHS England performance framework. National waiting-time data is published by NHS England against the current NHS England operational standard of admitting, transferring or discharging 78% of A&E attendances within four hours; live snapshots on this page are sourced separately from the trust's own published feeds, so the figures here can be more current than the headline national release.
For Barrow-in-Furness residents, the practical question is rarely "is Furness General Hospital fast?" but "compared to what?" Wait times at any single site can swing materially within a day, depending on staffing, ambulance arrivals and how full the wider hospital is. The nearest-alternatives section above lists the closest comparable sites, each with their own current wait — that side-by-side comparison is more useful than any single-site average.
For non-life-threatening issues, residents in Barrow-in-Furness and surrounding North West may also have access to a Minor Injuries Unit or Urgent Treatment Centre with shorter waits for less serious conditions. NHS 111 can confirm the appropriate service for your specific need before you travel.
Furness General Hospital A&E — frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions about waiting times and visiting this A&E.
What is the average A&E waiting time at Furness General Hospital?
As of the latest update, the current A&E wait at Furness General Hospital is 147 minutes (about 2 hr 27 min). This figure is labelled "Live" — see the freshness badge next to the wait number for the exact source and timestamp. Wait times fluctuate throughout the day, so this may not be the exact time you wait.
What time is Furness General Hospital A&E least busy?
Across most UK A&E departments, the quietest period is typically between 4am and 7am, with a secondary lull around mid-morning on weekdays. Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as Monday mornings, generally see the longest waits. Check the Wait History above to see the recent trends for Furness General Hospital.
Is there a way to check A&E wait times for Furness General Hospital?
Yes, you can check the live A&E waiting times for Furness General Hospital right here on this page. We update this data regularly based on the information provided by University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.
How long can Furness General Hospital A&E make you wait?
NHS England's interim recovery standard sets a target to admit, transfer, or discharge 78% of patients within 4 hours of arrival at A&E. However, wait times can be longer depending on the severity of your condition and how busy the department is. Patients with life-threatening emergencies are always prioritised.
How often are wait times updated at Furness General Hospital?
The wait times for Furness General Hospital are updated based on the data feed from University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust. The exact time of the last update is shown at the top of this page.
What does 'Current Longest Wait Time' mean at Furness General Hospital?
The 'Current Longest Wait Time' typically refers to the longest time any non-admitted patient has been waiting to be seen by a doctor or nurse practitioner after arriving at the A&E department. It gives an indication of the maximum wait you might experience for non-life-threatening conditions.
Is Furness General Hospital A&E open 24 hours?
Yes. The A&E department at Furness General Hospital is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. If you have a life-threatening emergency, go directly to A&E or call 999. For non-urgent medical concerns, please call NHS 111 first.
How do I get to Furness General Hospital?
Furness General Hospital is located at Dalton Lane, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 4LF. The A&E entrance is usually clearly signposted on arrival. If you need to contact them before travelling, the hospital switchboard is +44 1229 870870.