NHS Royal Shrewsbury Hospital Live A&E Waiting Times
Also known as: RSH, Royal Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Hospital A&E, Shrewsbury Royal Hospital
Last updated sourced from The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
Hospital details
Shrewsbury, SY3 8XQ
About Royal Shrewsbury Hospital
The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) is a major acute hospital on Mytton Oak Road in Shrewsbury, operated by The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH). Together with its sister site the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, the trust serves a population of more than 500,000 people across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and large parts of Mid Wales (Powys). Under the trust's Hospital Transformation / "FutureFit" programme, emergency and acute inpatient services are being centralised at RSH, with Princess Royal Telford moving to a planned-care site with a 24/7 Urgent Treatment Centre. RSH provides a 24/7 Emergency Department with a separate Children's A&E, alongside an Acute Medical Unit, a Surgical Assessment Unit, intensive care, consultant-led maternity, the trust's Renal Dialysis Unit, trauma and orthopaedics, vascular surgery, ophthalmology and a full diagnostic imaging service. Current Royal Shrewsbury Hospital A&E waiting times are tracked here in real time, sourced from the NHS England feed and SaTH.
Emergency Department (A&E)
These times give you an idea of how long you may need to wait to be seen. There is a wait time for adults and for children (under 18).
Patients will see a triage nurse on arrival first. This is to find out how ill they are to get the treatment they need.
The wait time shows the average time, in hours and minutes it will take for a doctor or nurse to see a patient. We will see the most urgent patients first.
The waiting time shows the most current waiting time. During busy times, the wait time may be over 4 hours.
The demand in the department can change quickly. For example, a serious car accident can affect the wait time.
We are working to see patients as soon as possible.
Departments & Services
- Adult Emergency Department (24/7)
- Children's Emergency Department
- Acute Medical Unit
- Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU)
- Intensive Care / High Dependency
- Maternity Services (consultant-led)
- Neonatal Care
- Paediatrics
- Renal Dialysis Unit (trust)
- Cardiology
Recent Wait Time Updates
| Date & Time | Majors | Children | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 25 Apr01:50 | 89 mins | 0 mins | +24% |
| Sat 25 Apr00:50 | 72 mins | 21 mins | −21% |
| Fri 24 Apr23:50 | 91 mins | 0 mins | +7.1% |
| Fri 24 Apr22:50 | 85 mins | 0 mins | +81% |
| Fri 24 Apr21:50 | 47 mins | 48 mins | −23% |
Nearest A&E alternatives
See live A&E wait times at other NHS hospitals near Royal Shrewsbury Hospital
How Royal Shrewsbury Hospital compares to nearby hospitals
Within Midlands, Royal Shrewsbury 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 Shrewsbury residents, the practical question is rarely "is Royal Shrewsbury 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 Shrewsbury and surrounding Midlands 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.
Royal Shrewsbury 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 Royal Shrewsbury Hospital?
As of the latest update, the current A&E wait at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital is 99 minutes (about 1 hr 39 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 Shrewsbury 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 Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
Is there a way to check A&E wait times for Royal Shrewsbury Hospital?
Yes, you can check the live A&E waiting times for Royal Shrewsbury Hospital right here on this page. We update this data regularly based on the information provided by The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.
How long can Royal Shrewsbury 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 Royal Shrewsbury Hospital?
The wait times for Royal Shrewsbury Hospital are updated based on the data feed from The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS 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 Shrewsbury 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 Royal Shrewsbury Hospital A&E open 24 hours?
Yes. The A&E department at Royal Shrewsbury 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 Royal Shrewsbury Hospital?
Royal Shrewsbury Hospital is located at Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury, SY3 8XQ. The A&E entrance is usually clearly signposted on arrival. If you need to contact them before travelling, the hospital switchboard is 01743 261000.