Cardiff is in Wales, where hospital services are run by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. This page shows the latest published Wales figures for A&E and diagnostic tests for that health board.
These are Wales figures, not NHS England data. Health services in Wales are run separately and publish their own statistics, which use different definitions. Figures here come from StatsWales and the Welsh Government NHS activity and performance summary.
Cardiff: local hospitals and referrals
Local NHS organisation: Cardiff is served by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, which runs its hospitals and decides where patients are referred.
Where to check your own referral: your GP or the hospital booking team at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board can tell you where you would be seen and your expected wait.
A&E waiting times in Cardiff
59.3%of A&E attendances within 4 hours (September 2026)
12,369attendances in the month
63.9%Wales average within 4 hours
In September 2026, 59.3% of the 12,369 attendances at emergency departments run by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board spent 4 hours or less in A&E, 4.7 points below the Wales figure of 63.9%. 91.1% spent 12 hours or less in A&E (Wales: 88.2%). That ranks 5 of 7 health boards in Wales.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board: % within 4 hours Wales
Welsh diagnostic figures use an 8-week measure (people waiting more than 8 weeks), not the 6-week measure used in England and Scotland, so the numbers are not directly comparable.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, August 2026
NHS England statistics cover hospitals in England only. Wales has its own targets and measures: for example, Wales reports diagnostic waits over 8 weeks rather than 6, and A&E figures by health board. Comparisons between nations should be made with care. For England, see the England A&E league table.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the A&E wait in Cardiff?
In September 2026, 59.3% of A&E attendances at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board spent 4 hours or less in A&E, compared with 63.9% across Wales.
How long is the wait for an MRI scan in Cardiff?
42.1% of the 4,027 people waiting for an MRI at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board had waited more than 8 weeks (August 2026).
Who provides NHS hospital services in Cardiff?
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. In Wales health services are run by health boards, not NHS England trusts.