Current wait status
Updated 5 minutes ago
7
Avg wait (min)
Sunshine Coast University Hospital ED — 30-day patterns
Sunshine Coast University Hospital ED's median wait to be seen was 12 min over the last 30 days (n = 4,540 hospital-published snapshots from Queensland Health, 2026-04-19 to 2026-05-19).
The quietest hour was typically 4am to 5am (median 10 min), and the busiest was 4pm to 5pm (median 16 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 Saturday (median 11 min), and the busiest was Tuesday (median 14 min).
Compared to the previous 30 days, the median wait increased 9% (11 min → 12 min).
Aggregated from Queensland Health-published wait-to-be-seen snapshots over the last 30 days. Each row is the rolling-average wait the hospital itself publishes. 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:
- Murrumba Downs Medicare Urgent Care ClinicMurrumba Downs — 60km
- Northside Brisbane Medicare Urgent Care ClinicKedron — 76km
- South Brisbane Medicare Urgent Care ClinicWoolloongabba — 85km
When you might not need the ED
If you are visiting Sunshine Coast University Hospital ED for any of the following, a bulk billed telehealth GP consultation may be faster and more convenient:
- Repeat prescriptions or new scripts (sent as eScripts to your phone)
- Medical certificates for work, university, or Centrelink
- 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 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 Sunshine Coast University Hospital?
The data is sourced directly from Queensland Health and updated every 30 minutes. 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.
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.