Royal Adelaide Hospital
Adelaide, 5000
Flinders Medical Centre
Bedford Park, 5042
Lyell McEwin Hospital
Elizabeth Vale, 5112
Modbury Hospital
Modbury, 5092
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Woodville South, 5011
Ashford Hospital
Private · Fees applyAshford, 5035
About emergency departments in South Australia
South Australia has 6 hospitals with emergency departments reporting live wait time data (5 public, 1 private). Data is sourced from SA Health and Healthscope and refreshed throughout the day.
Wait times vary significantly by time of day, day of the week, and season. Winter months (June to August) typically see the longest waits due to flu season. Triage category 4 and 5 patients (semi-urgent and non-urgent) experience the longest waits, often several hours.
If your situation is not an emergency, see our guide to bulk billed telehealth GP options in South Australia for an overview of statewide bulk billing context, hotlines, and how telehealth fits into the SA health system.
Need in-person urgent care that does not warrant an ED visit? Browse Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in South Australia. They are walk-in, bulk billed for Medicare cardholders, and handle minor fractures, sprains, cuts, infections and similar.
Not sure which option fits your situation? Compare ED, urgent care, and telehealth side by side, including cost, hours, and the kinds of problems each option handles best.
ED Wait Times in Adelaide
6 hospitals in the Adelaide Metro area report live emergency department data:
- Royal Adelaide Hospital , Adelaide
- Flinders Medical Centre , Bedford Park
- Lyell McEwin Hospital , Elizabeth Vale
- Modbury Hospital , Modbury
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital , Woodville South
- Ashford Hospital , Ashford
Frequently asked questions
What are the current ED wait times in South Australia?
This page shows live emergency department wait times for 6 public and private hospitals across South Australia. Data is sourced from SA Health and Healthscope and refreshed throughout the day. Wait times vary by hospital and time of day.
How accurate are the patient counts shown?
The data comes directly from SA Health and Healthscope and reflects the number of patients who have been triaged and are waiting for treatment at the time of the last update. Counts can change rapidly between updates. A reading of zero 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 is not a prediction of how long you will wait.
Can I avoid the ED wait in SA?
For non-emergency conditions like prescriptions, medical certificates, and referrals, you can see a GP via bulk billed telehealth instead of waiting in the ED. NewDoc offers same-day telehealth consultations with Australian-trained GPs at no out-of-pocket cost for eligible Medicare patients.
ED wait times in other states
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
Data sourced from SA Health and Healthscope. Wait times are indicative and may not reflect your actual wait. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.