A&E Waiting Times in Singapore: Your Guide to Faster Emergency Care

If you've got an urgent health concern, one of the first questions that often comes to mind is, "How long will I need to wait at A&E?"

Not knowing how long you might have to wait can add more stress to an already difficult situation.

In Singapore, A&E waiting times depend on urgency rather than arrival order, and some hospitals may be busier than others at certain times. Learning how waiting times work, when queues are typically shorter, and what alternatives are available can help you get the care you need with less uncertainty.

How do A&E waiting times in Singapore work?

When you arrive at an Accident & Emergency (A&E) department, a nurse will assess your condition through a triage process and assign you an urgency category based on your medical needs. This means you won't necessarily be seen in the order you arrived.

The triage system prioritises patients with life-threatening conditions, ensuring they receive immediate attention. If your condition is less urgent, you may experience longer waits – particularly during busy periods. This approach is designed to save lives by treating the most critical patients first.

Several factors influence how long you'll wait, namely:

• Severity of your condition:

  • Patients with critical conditions (such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding) are prioritised over less urgent cases.

• Time of day:

  • A&E departments tend to be busier during evenings, weekends, and public holidays when GP clinics are closed.

• Hospital capacity:

  • Bed availability and staffing levels can affect how quickly patients move through the system.

• Number of patients:

  • A sudden influx of emergencies can delay treatment for less urgent cases.

It's important to know that even if you've been waiting for hours, a newly arrived patient with a more serious condition will be seen before you. While this can feel frustrating sometimes, the triage system ensures that patients who need urgent medical intervention receive it without delay.

Average waiting times by urgency category

Once you've been assessed through triage, you'll be assigned to one of four priority categories. 

Each has different expected waiting times, such as:

• P1 (Critical):

  • Immediate attention for life-threatening conditions such as heart attacks, severe bleeding, or difficulty breathing.

• P2 (Emergency):

  • Care within 30 minutes for serious conditions requiring urgent treatment, such as suspected fractures or severe pain.

• P3 (Urgent):

  • Expected waiting time of 1-2 hours for conditions that need medical attention but aren't immediately life-threatening.

• P4 (Semi-urgent):

  • Expected waiting time of 2-3 hours for minor injuries or conditions that could be managed at a GP clinic.

These are general timeframes. During busy periods or when there's a sudden influx of critical cases, your actual wait may be longer.

Peak hours vs off-peak hours

Beyond your urgency category, the time you visit A&E also influences how long you'll wait. Patient volumes fluctuate throughout the day and week, with certain periods consistently busier than others. 

Here are the common peak hours and off-peak hours:

• Peak hours, which normally have longer waiting times, include:

  • Evenings between 6.00 p.m. and 12.00 a.m., when GP clinics close

  • Weekends and public holidays

  • Monday mornings, as patients who waited out the weekend seek care

  • During disease outbreaks or flu season

• Off-peak hours, usually offering shorter waiting times, include:

  • Weekday mornings between 8.00 a.m. and 12.00 p.m.

  • Early afternoons on weekdays

  • Late night to early morning hours (12.00 a.m. to 6.00 a.m.)

If your condition isn't urgent and can safely wait, visiting during off-peak hours may help reduce your waiting time. However, if you're experiencing serious symptoms, please don't delay seeking care – your health and wellbeing should always come first.

Waiting in A&E can feel overwhelming, especially when you are feeling unwell or anxious. If you're uncertain whether your symptoms need emergency care, trust your instincts – you know your body best, and seeking help when something doesn't feel right is always the right decision.

Which hospital has shortest A&E waiting time Singapore

A&E waiting times fluctuate throughout the day depending on patient volume and staffing, so there isn't one hospital that consistently has shorter waits than others.

If your condition needs medical attention but isn't immediately life-threatening, you have several options to consider. Urgent Care Centres (UCCs) are designed to manage acute conditions such as minor injuries, infections, and sudden illnesses. Thomson Urgent Care Centre (UCC) is one such facility available for these types of medical needs.

Public hospitals across Singapore serve different regions and experience varying patient volumes:

• Singapore General Hospital (SGH) is the largest hospital and handles high patient volumes.

• Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH) serves the western region.

• National University Hospital (NUH) serves the western region.

• Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) serves the central and northern regions.

• Changi General Hospital (CGH) serves the eastern region.

Private hospitals such as Mount Elizabeth, Gleneagles, and Raffles Hospital operate with different patient volumes compared to public hospitals, though treatment costs are considerably higher and may not be fully covered by insurance or government subsidies.

Patient volumes can change significantly within hours – a hospital with minimal wait at 2.00 p.m. could be much busier by 8.00 p.m. 

If you're facing a genuine emergency, the most important thing is to seek care at the nearest appropriate facility rather than spending time searching for shorter waits. When symptoms are serious, getting timely medical attention matters more than comparing waiting times.

When to go to A&E vs GP clinic

Knowing whether your condition needs A&E or can wait for a GP appointment can save you hours and help you get the right level of care.

Medical emergencies that need A&E

Head to A&E immediately (or call 995) if you're experiencing these symptoms:

• Chest pain or severe breathing difficulties, particularly chest pressure, tightness, or shortness of breath

• Stroke symptoms, such as sudden weakness on one side, difficulty speaking, facial drooping, or severe headache

• Severe bleeding that won't stop after you've applied pressure for 10-15 minutes

• Loss of consciousness or seizures, especially if it's the first time or lasts longer than 5 minutes

• Severe injuries, including suspected broken bones, deep wounds, or head injuries with confusion or vomiting

• Poisoning or overdose from medications, chemicals, or substances

• Severe allergic reactions with swelling of your face, lips, or tongue

• Severe abdominal pain, particularly if it's sudden and intense, or accompanied by vomiting blood

If you're unsure whether your condition is an emergency, it's safer to seek immediate medical attention rather than wait.

Conditions suitable for GP or urgent care

Many conditions feel urgent but don't actually require a hospital A&E. 

You will often get faster, more cost-effective treatment at a GP clinic or UCC for:

• Common infections, such as fever, colds, flu, sore throat, ear infections, urinary tract infections

• Minor injuries, including small cuts, minor burns, sprains and strains, minor falls without head injury

• Digestive issues, like mild food poisoning or gastroenteritis without severe dehydration

• Skin problems, namely rashes, minor infections, allergic reactions without breathing difficulties

• Aches and pains, including back pain, muscle aches, toothaches

• Medical certificates and acute medication needs

UCCs are walk-in medical facilities that treat acute conditions requiring prompt attention but aren't life-threatening emergencies. They can be particularly helpful when GP clinics are closed during evenings, weekends, and public holidays, offering you another option for timely care when you need it.

Tips to reduce your A&E waiting time

While you can't control how busy an A&E department is or how the triage system prioritises patients, there are a few practical steps you can take to minimise delays.

Check real-time waiting times before you go

The HealthHub website or app lets you compare current wait times across different hospitals. If your condition isn't critical and one hospital shows considerably shorter waits, the extra travel time might be worth it.

Avoid peak hours when possible

If your condition can safely wait, you'll likely face shorter waits during off-peak hours (weekday mornings or early afternoons) compared to evenings, weekends, or public holidays.

Consider urgent care for non-emergencies

If your condition doesn't need hospital-level emergency care, UCCs can treat many acute conditions with wait times measured in minutes rather than hours.

Be prepared with medical information

Have your identity card, insurance details, medication list, and any relevant medical records ready. Being able to quickly provide accurate information during triage and registration helps speed up the process.

If your condition worsens while waiting

Let the triage nurse know immediately. Changes in your symptoms may warrant reassessment and a higher priority category.

These strategies can help you feel more prepared and in control during an already stressful situation. Knowing your options ahead of time – whether that's understanding triage categories or knowing where your nearest A&E is – means you'll have one less thing to figure out when you actually need care.

FAQ

What is the average A&E waiting time in Singapore?

Average A&E waiting times vary by triage category and hospital. Non-urgent cases (P3 and P4) usually wait 1 to 3 hours, though this can extend to 4-6 hours during peak periods. Urgent cases (P2) are normally seen within 30 minutes to an hour, while critical patients (P1) receive immediate attention. Check current wait times on the HealthHub app for specific hospitals.

Why is my A&E wait so long even though I arrived early?

Will I be seen faster if I call an ambulance?

No, arriving by ambulance doesn't guarantee faster treatment. You'll still go through the same triage process based on the severity of your condition, not your mode of arrival. Ambulances should only be called (995) for genuine emergencies where immediate medical attention is needed.

Can I leave A&E if the wait is too long and come back later?

Are A&E waiting times longer on weekends and public holidays?

Do private hospital A&Es have shorter waiting times than public hospitals?

Not necessarily. Both private and public A&Es use the triage system, so your waiting time depends on your condition's severity. Private A&Es may be less crowded during off-peak hours but can have similar wait times during busy periods or when handling critical cases.

The information provided is intended for general guidance only and should not be considered medical advice. For personalised recommendations based on your medical conditions, request an appointment with Thomson Medical.