Edinburgh is in City of Edinburgh, Scotland, where hospital services are run by NHS Lothian. This page shows the latest published Scotland figures for A&E and diagnostic tests for that health board.
These are Scotland figures, not NHS England data. Health services in Scotland are run separately and publish their own statistics, which use different definitions. Figures here come from Public Health Scotland (open data at opendata.nhs.scot).
Edinburgh: local hospitals and referrals
Local NHS organisation: Edinburgh is served by NHS Lothian, which runs its hospitals and decides where patients are referred.
Nearest emergency departments: Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (NHS Lothian), about 3 miles away; Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France (NHS Lothian), about 3 miles away.
Where to check your own referral: your GP or the hospital booking team at NHS Lothian can tell you where you would be seen and your expected wait.
A&E waiting times in Edinburgh
64.0%of A&E attendances within 4 hours (August 2026)
27,520attendances in the month
66.7%Scotland average within 4 hours
In August 2026, 64.0% of the 27,520 attendances at emergency departments run by NHS Lothian spent 4 hours or less in A&E, 2.7 points below the Scotland figure of 66.7%. That ranks 11 of 14 health boards in Scotland.
NHS England statistics cover hospitals in England only. Scotland has its own targets and measures: for example, Scotland reports A&E and diagnostic waits by health board, and counts diagnostic waits over 6 weeks. 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 Edinburgh?
In August 2026, 64.0% of A&E attendances at NHS Lothian spent 4 hours or less in A&E, compared with 66.7% across Scotland.
How long is the wait for an MRI scan in Edinburgh?
24.0% of the 3,982 people waiting for an MRI at NHS Lothian had waited more than 6 weeks (June 2026).
Who provides NHS hospital services in Edinburgh?
NHS Lothian. In Scotland health services are run by health boards, not NHS England trusts.