NHS Royal Children's Hospital Belfast Live A&E Waiting Times
Also known as: Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Royal Children's Hospital, RBHSC, Childrens Hospital Belfast, Belfast Children's A&E, Paediatric A&E Belfast
Last updated sourced from Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Hospital details
Belfast, BT12 6BE
About Royal Children's Hospital Belfast
The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children (RBHSC) is the only children's hospital in Northern Ireland, located on the Royal Victoria Hospital site at 180 Falls Road in west Belfast and operated by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. Its 24/7 Paediatric Emergency Department is the regional A&E for children up to 14 years old across Northern Ireland and sees around 34,000 children a year, with a dedicated minor-injuries stream, paediatric resuscitation, paediatric major trauma, and on-site paediatric surgery, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, intensive care and the regional cardiac, cancer and cleft services. A new 155-bed children's hospital — approved by BBC-reported planning in 2024 with construction starting in 2025 and a target opening in 2030 — is being built on the same site. Current Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children A&E waiting times are tracked here in real time, sourced from the NIdirect average ED waiting-times feed and the Belfast Trust.
Emergency Department (A&E)
The Paediatric Emergency Department at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children treats children up to 14 years with serious or life-threatening conditions. For non-life-threatening problems contact your GP, the GP out-of-hours service, or call 111 for guidance. In a true emergency, call 999.
Departments & Services
- Paediatric Emergency Department (24/7, under-14s only)
- Paediatric Resuscitation
- Paediatric Minor Injuries Stream
- Paediatric Major Trauma
- Paediatric Critical Care / PICU
- Paediatric Medicine
- Paediatric Surgery (regional)
- Paediatric Neurosurgery (regional)
- Paediatric Orthopaedics
- Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery (regional)
Recent Wait Time Updates
| Date & Time | Wait Time | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 25 Apr01:50 | 206 mins | +18% |
| Sat 25 Apr00:50 | 175 mins | +21% |
| Fri 24 Apr23:50 | 145 mins | +26% |
| Fri 24 Apr22:50 | 115 mins | +22% |
| Fri 24 Apr21:50 | 94 mins | +9.3% |
Nearest A&E alternatives
See live A&E wait times at other NHS hospitals near Royal Children's Hospital Belfast
How Royal Children's Hospital Belfast compares to nearby hospitals
Within Northern Ireland, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children is one of several urgent and emergency care sites and sits inside the wider Health and Social Care Northern Ireland (HSC) performance framework. National waiting-time data is published by the Department of Health Northern Ireland against the Department of Health (Northern Ireland) standard that 95% of patients are treated and discharged or admitted 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 Belfast residents, the practical question is rarely "is Royal Children's Hospital Belfast 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 Belfast and surrounding Northern Ireland may also have access to a Minor Injuries Unit or Urgent Treatment Centre with shorter waits for less serious conditions. Phone First (or 111 in some areas) can confirm the appropriate service for your specific need before you travel.
Royal Children's Hospital Belfast 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 Royal Children's Hospital Belfast?
As of the latest update, the current A&E wait at Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children is 213 minutes (about 3 hr 33 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 Royal Children's Hospital Belfast 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 Royal Children's Hospital Belfast.
Is there a way to check A&E wait times for Royal Children's Hospital Belfast?
Yes, you can check the live A&E waiting times for Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children right here on this page. We update this data regularly based on the information provided by Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.
How long can Royal Children's Hospital Belfast A&E make you wait?
the Department of Health (HSC NI) sets a target to admit, transfer, or discharge 95% 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 Royal Children's Hospital Belfast?
The wait times for Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children are updated based on the data feed from Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. The exact time of the last update is shown at the top of this page.
What does 'Current Longest Wait Time' mean at Royal Children's Hospital Belfast?
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 Royal Children's Hospital Belfast A&E open 24 hours?
Yes. The A&E department at Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children 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 out of hours, please contact your GP out-of-hours service. NHS 111 is being rolled out across Northern Ireland but is not yet available in all areas.
How do I get to Royal Children's Hospital Belfast?
Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children is located at 180 Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 6BE. The A&E entrance is usually clearly signposted on arrival. If you need to contact them before travelling, the hospital switchboard is +44 2890 240503.