NHS William Harvey Hospital Live A&E Waiting Times
Also known as: William Harvey Hospital, William Harvey Hospital Ashford, William Harvey A&E, William Harvey Emergency Department, WHH Ashford, Ashford A&E, William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
Last updated sourced from East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Hospital details
Ashford, TN24 0LZ
About William Harvey Hospital
William Harvey Hospital is a major acute and teaching hospital on Kennington Road in Willesborough, Ashford, Kent, run by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. It is one of the trust's two main acute sites (alongside the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate) and operates a 24-hour Accident and Emergency department serving Ashford, Folkestone, Hythe and the wider south-east Kent area. The hospital is a designated heart attack centre with one of the busiest primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) services in England, and provides an acute stroke unit, a 24-bed intensive care unit, an acute medical unit, consultant- and midwifery-led maternity with a neonatal intensive care unit, and a range of surgical and outpatient specialties. It is also the regional head and neck cancer centre. Named after the Folkestone-born physician William Harvey, who first described the circulation of the blood, the hospital sits within the NHS Kent and Medway integrated care system. Current William Harvey Hospital 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. William Harvey Hospital's A&E is open 24 hours a day, every day, and is a designated heart attack (primary PCI) and stroke centre. 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 Emergency Department (24/7)
- Acute Medical Unit
- Intensive Care Unit
- Cardiology and Primary PCI (Heart Attack Centre)
- Cardiac Catheter Suite
- Acute Stroke Unit
- Consultant-led Maternity
- Midwifery-led Unit (Singleton)
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- Head and Neck Cancer Centre
William Harvey Hospital A&E Wait Times in Ashford — Last 24 Hours
| Hour | Avg. Wait | People Waiting |
|---|---|---|
Today, 9 PM | 2 hr 27 min−9.3% | 6−14% |
Today, 8 PM | 2 hr 42 min−10% | 7−22% |
Today, 7 PM | 3 hr 1 min−4.2% | 9−18% |
Today, 6 PM | 3 hr 9 min+6.8% | 11 |
Today, 5 PM | 2 hr 57 min+18% | 11+22% |
Today, 4 PM | 2 hr 30 min+23% | 9+29% |
Today, 3 PM | 2 hr 2 min+11% | 7+17% |
Today, 2 PM | 1 hr 50 min−6.8% | 6 |
How William Harvey Hospital compares to nearby hospitals
Within Kent, William Harvey 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 Ashford residents, the practical question is rarely "is William Harvey 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 Ashford and surrounding Kent 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.
William Harvey 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 William Harvey Hospital?
As of the latest update, the current A&E wait at William Harvey Hospital is 155 minutes (about 2 hr 35 min). This figure is labelled "Latest published" — 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 William Harvey 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 William Harvey Hospital.
Is there a way to check A&E wait times for William Harvey Hospital?
Yes, you can check the live A&E waiting times for William Harvey 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 William Harvey 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 William Harvey Hospital?
The wait times for William Harvey 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 William Harvey 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 William Harvey Hospital A&E open 24 hours?
Yes. The A&E department at William Harvey 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 William Harvey Hospital?
William Harvey Hospital is located at Kennington Road, Willesborough, Ashford, TN24 0LZ. The A&E entrance is usually clearly signposted on arrival. If you need to contact them before travelling, the hospital switchboard is +44 1233 633331.