Royal North Shore Hospital Emergency Department Wait Times

St Leonards, NSW 2065

Live data · Updated hourly

Current wait status

Updated 10 minutes ago

Low

4

Patients waiting

Not an emergency? See a bulk billed GP from home.

No out-of-pocket cost for eligible Medicare patients. Scripts, certificates, and referrals included.

About Royal North Shore Hospital

Royal North Shore Hospital functions as the major trauma centre for Northern Sydney and is a principal referral hospital within the region. It provides highly specialised services including burns, neonatal intensive care, and interventional cardiology. The hospital's emergency department serves a large catchment spanning Sydney's lower and upper North Shore.

Hospital details

AddressReserve Rd, St Leonards NSW 2065
Health districtNorthern Sydney Local Health District
ED beds53
Data sourceNSW Health

Nearby emergency departments

When you might not need the ED

If you are visiting Royal North Shore Hospital ED for any of the following, a bulk billed telehealth GP consultation may be faster and more convenient:

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 from home.

For non-emergency concerns like coughs, colds, scripts, and referrals. Book a bulk billed telehealth consult with a qualified GP.

Or call 0481 615 998

Related services

Frequently asked questions

How accurate are the wait times shown for Royal North Shore Hospital?

The data is sourced directly from NSW Health and updated hourly. It reflects the number of patients who have been triaged and are waiting for treatment at the time of the last update. Actual wait times 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 bulk billed telehealth GP consultation may be faster and more convenient.

Reviewed by Dr. Jason Yu FRACGP

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.