NHS QEQM Hospital Margate Live A&E Waiting Times
Also known as: QEQM, QEQM Hospital, QEQM Margate, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital, Margate, Margate A&E, QEQM Emergency Department
Last updated sourced from East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Hospital details
Margate, CT9 4AN
About QEQM Hospital Margate
The Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) is a major acute hospital on St Peters Road in Margate, Kent, run by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. It is one of the trust's two main acute sites (alongside William Harvey Hospital in Ashford) and operates a 24-hour Accident and Emergency department for all ages, serving Thanet and the wider east Kent coast. The hospital provides an acute medical unit, emergency surgery, consultant-led maternity with a special care baby unit, stroke services, outpatient clinics and diagnostic imaging. It sits within the NHS Kent and Medway integrated care system. Current QEQM A&E waiting times are tracked here in real time, sourced from NHS Kent and Medway.
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. QEQM's A&E is open 24 hours a day, every day, for all ages. If your condition is urgent but not life-threatening, consider an Urgent Treatment Centre or call NHS 111 first — they can advise you and book you in if needed. In a true emergency, always call 999.
Departments & Services
- Adult and Paediatric Emergency Department (24/7)
- Acute Medical Unit
- Emergency and General Surgery
- Consultant-led Maternity
- Special Care Baby Unit
- Stroke Services
- Outpatient Clinics
- CT, MRI and Diagnostic Imaging
- Pathology / Laboratory Services
- Pharmacy
QEQM Hospital Margate A&E Wait Times in Margate — Last 24 Hours
| Hour | Avg. Wait | People Waiting |
|---|---|---|
Today, 9 PM | 4 hr 19 min+5.3% | 15−12% |
Today, 8 PM | 4 hr 6 min+34% | 17+70% |
Today, 7 PM | 3 hr 4 min+26% | 10+25% |
Today, 6 PM | 2 hr 26 min | 8−11% |
Today, 5 PM | 2 hr 26 min | 9 |
Today, 4 PM | 2 hr 26 min | 9 |
Today, 3 PM | 2 hr 26 min | 9 |
Today, 2 PM | 2 hr 26 min | 9 |
Nearest A&E alternatives
See live A&E wait times at other NHS hospitals near QEQM Hospital Margate
How QEQM Hospital Margate compares to nearby hospitals
QEQM is one of East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust's two full 24-hour A&E departments, alongside William Harvey Hospital in Ashford — the natural comparison, roughly 40 minutes away by road. Both publish live waits on the NHS Kent and Medway feed shown on this page, so east Kent residents between the two can compare them directly. William Harvey is the trust's designated heart attack (primary PCI) centre, so some serious cardiac cases are taken there by ambulance regardless of which is closer.
For urgent but non life-threatening problems, Thanet residents often have a genuinely faster option in the urgent treatment centres on the same live feed: Herne Bay UTC and Estuary View in Whitstable along the coast, the 24-hour UTC at Kent and Canterbury Hospital, and the Victoria Hospital UTC in Deal to the south. The nearest-alternatives section above lists the closest sites with their current waits. Wait times at any single site can swing materially within a day, so a live side-by-side comparison is more useful than any single-site average — and for anything potentially serious, an A&E is the right place even if its wait looks longer.
QEQM Hospital Margate 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 QEQM Hospital Margate?
As of the latest update, the current A&E wait at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital is 134 minutes (about 2 hr 14 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 QEQM Hospital Margate 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 QEQM Hospital Margate.
Is there a way to check A&E wait times for QEQM Hospital Margate?
Yes, you can check the live A&E waiting times for Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital right here on this page. We update this data regularly based on the information provided by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust.
How long can QEQM Hospital Margate 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 QEQM Hospital Margate?
The wait times for Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital are updated based on the data feed from East Kent Hospitals University 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 QEQM Hospital Margate?
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 QEQM Hospital Margate A&E open 24 hours?
Yes. The A&E department at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother 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 QEQM Hospital Margate?
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital is located at St Peters Road, Margate, CT9 4AN. The A&E entrance is usually clearly signposted on arrival. If you need to contact them before travelling, the hospital switchboard is +44 1843 225544.