Current wait status
Last checked 8:55 pm AEST, 1 Oct
29
Median to treatment (min)
Queensland Health publishes the median time from triage to the start of treatment. It does not publish a count of patients waiting.
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital ED: 30-day patterns
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital ED's published median time to treatment was typically 47 min over the last 30 days (n = 6,879 hospital-published snapshots from Queensland Health, 2026-09-01 to 2026-10-01).
The quietest hour was typically 10am to 11am (median 22 min), and the busiest was 1am to 2am (median 1.2 h). Same-day variation can be larger than this median band, so check the live status above before travelling.
The quietest day of the week was typically Sunday (median 36 min), and the busiest was Wednesday (median 58 min).
Compared to the previous 30 days, the typical median time to treatment was roughly unchanged (48 min → 47 min).
Typical values are medians of Queensland Health-published snapshots over the last 30 days. Queensland Health publishes the median time from triage to the start of treatment. It does not publish a count of patients waiting. Hour-of-day and day-of-week buckets use the hospital's local time.
About Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital is Queensland's largest public hospital, providing a full spectrum of tertiary and quaternary services. Located in Herston near the Brisbane CBD, it is a major teaching and research facility. The ED is one of the highest-volume emergency departments in the state, treating over 70,000 presentations annually.
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:
- Inner Brisbane Medicare Urgent Care ClinicKelvin Grove, 1km
- Northside Medicare Urgent Care ClinicKedron, 4km
- South Brisbane Medicare Urgent Care ClinicWoolloongabba, 6km
When you might not need the ED
If you are visiting Royal Brisbane and Women's 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 from home.
For non-emergency concerns like coughs, colds, scripts, and referrals. Book a telehealth consult with a qualified GP, bulk billed if you're Medicare eligible.
Or call NewDoc on 0485 049 710
NewDoc is an independent telehealth service. This number does not reach Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
How accurate are the wait times shown for Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital?
The data is sourced directly from Queensland Health and updated every 30 minutes. Queensland Health publishes the median time from triage to the start of treatment. It does not publish a count of patients waiting. Actual waits can change rapidly depending on the severity of incoming cases and ED capacity. The numbers shown are a snapshot, not a guarantee.
What does the demand level (Low / Medium / High) mean?
The demand level is an estimate based on the published median time to treatment: under an hour shows Low, one to two hours Medium, and two hours or more High. It is a guide to how busy the ED is, not a prediction of 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 Queensland Health. Wait times are indicative and may not reflect your actual wait. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.