Current wait status
Last checked 1:10 am AEST, 2 Oct
22
Patients waiting
NSW Health's live feed gives the number of patients waiting for treatment. It does not give a wait time for this emergency department.
About Gosford Hospital
Gosford Hospital is the principal hospital for the Central Coast, providing services to a population that has grown substantially in recent decades. It offers a wide range of medical, surgical, and maternity services. The emergency department is one of the busiest regional EDs in NSW, with significant seasonal surges during holiday periods.
Hospital details
Nearby emergency departments
Nearby Medicare Urgent Care Clinics
For urgent but not life-threatening problems (sprains, minor fractures, small wounds, acute infections), a walk-in Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is bulk billed and usually faster than an ED:
- Erina Medicare Urgent Care ClinicErina, 5km
- Peninsula Medicare Urgent Care ClinicUmina Beach, 10km
- Lake Haven Medicare Urgent Care ClinicLake Haven, 26km
When you might not need the ED
If you are visiting Gosford Hospital ED for any of the following, a telehealth GP consultation, bulk billed if you're Medicare eligible, may be faster and more convenient:
- Repeat prescriptions or new scripts (sent as eScripts to your phone)
- Medical certificates for work, university, or carer's leave
- Specialist, pathology, or imaging referrals
- Cold, flu, or minor illness treatment
- Mental health support
- Sexual health consultations
NewDoc telehealth consultations are bulk billed for eligible Medicare patients, with no out-of-pocket cost. Same-day appointments are available 7 days a week.
Skip the wait. See a GP online.
For non-emergency concerns, a telehealth GP can help. Bulk billed if you're Medicare eligible, so $0 out of pocket.
Or call NewDoc on 0485 049 710
NewDoc is an independent telehealth service. This number does not reach Gosford Hospital.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
How accurate are the wait times shown for Gosford Hospital?
The data is sourced directly from NSW Health and updated hourly. NSW Health's live feed gives the number of patients waiting for treatment. It does not give a wait time for this emergency department. Actual waits can change rapidly depending on the severity of incoming cases and ED capacity. The numbers shown are a snapshot, not a guarantee.
Why does it sometimes show zero patients waiting?
A reading of zero means that at the time of the last data update, no triaged patients were recorded as waiting. This can happen briefly between shift changes, data refreshes, or during quieter periods. It does not necessarily mean the ED is empty, patients already being treated are not counted as waiting.
What does the demand level (Low / Medium / High) mean?
The demand level is an estimate based on the number of patients waiting relative to the size of the emergency department. A large hospital with 20 patients waiting may show Low demand, while a small hospital with the same number may show High. It indicates how busy the ED is compared to its usual capacity, not how long you will wait.
Should I use this to decide whether to go to the ED?
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, always call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department immediately. This page is for general information only. For non-emergency conditions like prescriptions, medical certificates, or referrals, a telehealth GP consultation, bulk billed if you're Medicare eligible, may be faster and more convenient.
Data sourced from NSW Health. Wait times are indicative and may not reflect your actual wait. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.