Current wait status
Last checked 8:55 pm AEST, 1 Oct
10
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.
Townsville University Hospital ED: 30-day patterns
Townsville University Hospital ED's published median time to treatment was typically 16 min over the last 30 days (n = 6,680 hospital-published snapshots from Queensland Health, 2026-09-01 to 2026-10-01).
The quietest hour was typically 10am to 11am (median 12 min), and the busiest was 11pm to 12am (median 25 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 14 min), and the busiest was Tuesday (median 20 min).
Compared to the previous 30 days, the typical median time to treatment decreased 16% (19 min → 16 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 Townsville University Hospital
Townsville University Hospital is the tertiary referral centre for North Queensland, serving a population spread across a catchment of over 150,000 square kilometres. Affiliated with James Cook University, it has strong teaching and tropical health research programs. The ED is the primary receiving point for emergency retrievals from across northern and north-western Queensland.
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:
- Townsville Medicare Urgent Care ClinicThuringowa Central, 2km
- Cairns South Medicare Urgent Care ClinicEdmonton, 276km
- Cairns North Medicare Urgent Care ClinicSmithfield, 297km
When you might not need the ED
If you are visiting Townsville 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 Townsville University Hospital.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
How accurate are the wait times shown for Townsville 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.