Live A&E Waiting Times in Stoke-on-Trent & Stafford
Compare the newest NHS waiting-time figures for Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital Stafford. Each card shows its source, update time and freshness label.
Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire NHS emergency care
This local directory brings together the two A&E departments operated by University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust. Royal Stoke is a 24-hour emergency department and Major Trauma Centre in Stoke-on-Trent. County Hospital serves adults aged 16 and over from 8am to 10pm daily in Stafford.
Stoke-on-Trent A&E waiting times now
Open a hospital card for its waiting-time history, service details, opening information, source and nearby alternatives.
Royal Stoke and County Hospital opening hours
The two A&E departments have different opening hours and age restrictions.
Royal Stoke: open 24 hours
Royal Stoke University Hospital provides 24-hour emergency care for adults and children. It is the Major Trauma Centre for the North West Midlands and North Wales Trauma Network, serving a wider population of nearly three million. Patients are treated by clinical need, so the displayed wait is a guide rather than a guaranteed time.
County Hospital: 8am–10pm, adults 16+
County Hospital Stafford A&E is not open overnight. When it is closed, 24-hour alternatives include Royal Stoke, New Cross Hospital, Queen's Hospital Burton and Manor Hospital Walsall. Call NHS 111 if you are unsure which service is appropriate.
Where Stoke-on-Trent A&E waiting times come from
Royal Stoke and County Hospital are operated by University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust. We check its publicly available waiting-time service and preserve the source and update time with every figure.
A green Live label is only used for a recent trust reading; older or less frequent figures are clearly marked Latest published, Monthly average or Estimated. Read our waiting-time methodology and data-source register for the refresh rules and source links.
Local A&E waiting-time questions
How the live figures work, which hospitals are covered and when each department is open.
What are the live A&E waiting times in Stoke-on-Trent?
The hospital cards above show the newest waiting-time figures available for Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital in Stafford. Open either card to see the named source, update time and freshness label, so you can tell whether the figure is live or the latest published data.
Is County Hospital Stafford A&E open 24 hours?
No. County Hospital A&E is open from 8am to 10pm every day for adults aged 16 and over. Royal Stoke University Hospital has a 24-hour A&E. Always check the latest opening information before travelling.
Where should children go for emergency care near Stoke-on-Trent?
Royal Stoke University Hospital A&E is open 24 hours for adults and children. County Hospital's main A&E is for people aged 16 and over. County Hospital also has a children's Minor Injuries Unit with set opening hours, but it is not a full children's emergency department.
Should I choose Royal Stoke or County Hospital A&E?
The right service depends on your symptoms, age, location and the time of day, not only the displayed wait. Royal Stoke is open 24 hours and provides major trauma and specialist emergency care. County Hospital A&E is open 8am to 10pm for adults aged 16 and over. For urgent but non-life-threatening advice, contact NHS 111.
Where do Stoke-on-Trent A&E waiting times come from?
Both hospitals are operated by University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust. We check its publicly available waiting-time service on a short cycle and show the source and update time with each figure. If current data is unavailable, we label the result Latest published, Monthly average or Estimated rather than presenting it as live.
Should I call NHS 111 before going to A&E?
For an urgent problem that is not life-threatening, NHS 111 can direct you to the most appropriate local service. For chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe breathing difficulty, heavy bleeding or another life-threatening emergency, call 999 immediately and do not delay care to compare waiting times.