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.
Sunshine Coast University Hospital ED: 30-day patterns
Sunshine Coast University Hospital ED's published median time to treatment was typically 15 min over the last 30 days (n = 6,695 hospital-published snapshots from Queensland Health, 2026-09-01 to 2026-10-01).
The quietest hour was typically 5am to 6am (median 11 min), and the busiest was 1am to 2am (median 19 min). 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 11 min), and the busiest was Tuesday (median 20 min).
Compared to the previous 30 days, the typical median time to treatment increased 7% (14 min → 15 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 Sunshine Coast University Hospital
Sunshine Coast University Hospital opened in 2017 as a purpose-built tertiary facility in Birtinya, replacing the Nambour General Hospital as the region's major referral centre. It provides advanced services including cardiac catheterisation, stroke care, and intensive care. The ED is designed for the growing Sunshine Coast population, which includes a large retiree demographic requiring frequent emergency care.
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:
- Buderim Medicare Urgent Care ClinicSippy Downs, 4km
- Caloundra Medicare UCCLittle Mountain, 6km
- Morayfield Medicare Urgent Care ClinicMorayfield, 43km
When you might not need the ED
If you are visiting Sunshine Coast University 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 Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
How accurate are the wait times shown for Sunshine Coast University 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.