South West: A&E Waiting Times Index
Real NHS England A&E waiting-time data for March 2026, across the 13 major (Type 1) A&E providers in this NHS region — scored on the Gera A&E Waiting Times Index (higher = longer waits).
How long are A&E waits in the South West NHS region?
As of March 2026, the Gera A&E Waiting Times Index for the South West NHS region is 63.5 / 100 (higher = longer waits), ranked 2 of 7 regions. 42.7% of the 130,045 major (Type 1) A&E patients across 13 trusts waited over 4 hours, with 3,985 waiting 12+ hours to be admitted. Gera re-dates this monthly.
| Measure | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Gera A&E Waiting Times Index | 63.5 / 100 | Higher = longer waits; high waiting |
| Type 1 4-hour breach rate | 42.7% | 57.3% seen within 4 hours |
| 12-hour DTA waits | 3,985 | 30.6 per 1,000 attendances |
| Type 1 attendances | 130,045 | Major A&E departments only |
| Named Type 1 providers | 13 | Aggregated in this region |
| vs England index | +7.3 | England 56.2 / 100 |
A&E Waiting Times Index by trust in South West (March 2026)
| Trust | Waiting Times Index | Within 4h | 12h waits / 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 87.9 / 100 | 47.9% | 69.9 |
| Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust | 85.6 / 100 | 51.1% | 67.3 |
| University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust | 75.6 / 100 | 37.4% | 38.9 |
| North Bristol NHS Trust | 66.7 / 100 | 64.5% | 60.3 |
| Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust | 66.6 / 100 | 54.6% | 30.2 |
| Torbay And South Devon NHS Foundation Trust | 63.6 / 100 | 50.2% | 9.6 |
| University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | 62 / 100 | 59.0% | 32.1 |
| Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 59.9 / 100 | 52.1% | 6 |
| University Hospitals Bristol And Weston NHS Foundation Trust | 57.7 / 100 | 62.3% | 31.4 |
| Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 56.1 / 100 | 64.6% | 34.1 |
| Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 54.6 / 100 | 61.2% | 19.9 |
| Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 51.6 / 100 | 61.3% | 12.7 |
| Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust | 48.4 / 100 | 62.6% | 9 |
Open any trust for its full figures: Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust · University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust · North Bristol NHS Trust · Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust · Torbay And South Devon NHS Foundation Trust · University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust · Somerset NHS Foundation Trust · University Hospitals Bristol And Weston NHS Foundation Trust · Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust · Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust · Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
A&E waits in other NHS regions
South West A&E waiting times: FAQs
- What is the A&E Waiting Times Index for South West?
- For March 2026, the Gera A&E Waiting Times Index for the South West NHS region is 63.5 / 100 (higher = longer waits), ranked 2 of 7 NHS England regions. 42.7% of the region's major (Type 1) A&E patients waited over 4 hours, and there were 30.6 12-hour decision-to-admit waits per 1,000 attendances across 13 named providers.
- Which A&E in South West has the longest waits?
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust scores highest (longest waits) in South West on the Gera A&E Waiting Times Index at 87.9 / 100, with 47.9% of major-A&E patients seen within 4 hours and 69.9 12-hour trolley waits per 1,000 attendances.
- How does South West compare with England overall?
- England's national Gera A&E Waiting Times Index is 56.2 / 100 in March 2026. South West is at 63.5 / 100 — longer waits than the national average. 36.1% of major A&E patients waited over 4 hours nationally, versus 42.7% in South West.
- Should I still go to A&E if waits are long?
- For a serious or life-threatening emergency, always go to A&E or call 999 — long average waits do not change that. For a non-emergency, NHS 111, a pharmacy, your GP or a private online consultation may be faster. GeraClinic connects patients with UK-registered doctors by video; it is a private telemedicine service and is not affiliated with the NHS.
Avoid a long A&E wait for a non-emergency
The A&E Waiting Times Index across South West is 63.5 / 100, with 42.7% of major-A&E patients waiting over 4 hours. For a non-emergency, see a UK-registered GeraClinic doctor online, often the same day — a private service, not affiliated with the NHS. For a 999 emergency always call 999.
Contains public sector information published by Gera Systems and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (source data). Source: Gera A&E Waiting Times Index — derived from NHS England A&E open data (March 2026, published 3 July 2026).