Emergency room in France: patients spend an average of 3 hours and 10 minutes before receiving treatment

Paris – 02.06.2026: The average waiting time in French emergency rooms reached a new record high in 2023. A survey by the French Ministry of Health found that patients have to wait an average of 3 hours and 10 minutes before the start of medical treatment. This represents an increase of about one hour compared to data from 2013.

The study does not only describe the total duration until treatment, but also provides detailed information on the individual stages of the stay. Thus, half of the patients wait less than 8 minutes for an initial assessment, the so-called triage. After this assessment, they spend on average less than 16 minutes before the actual start of treatment. Overall, the time between registration and the start of care is less than 30 minutes for half of the patients. However, about 10 percent of emergency patients experience waiting times of more than two hours.

The lengths of stay vary considerably depending on the course of the stay. Patients who are discharged home after treatment spend on average 2 hours and 30 minutes in the emergency area. The stay is significantly longer for those who are admitted: their average stay exceeds five hours. The situation is particularly problematic for patients transferred to short-term observation units, where the average stay is now almost 15 hours.

The study identifies several causes for the increase in waiting times. A key role is played by the structural problems of the French healthcare system. Among these is above all the shortage of general practitioners, which leads many patients to turn to emergency rooms as a first point of contact for health problems, even if not acute. Additionally, the increase in the number of elderly patients with often more complex health problems contributes to longer lengths of stay. The overload of staff and infrastructure in emergency rooms thus causes an increase in waiting times and makes it difficult to ensure timely care.

Rising waiting times in emergency rooms raise questions about the safety and quality of care. A longer wait can negatively affect treatment outcomes, especially in critical cases. Experts therefore call for improved organization and strengthened coordination between outpatient and hospital care to reduce pressure on emergency facilities. At the same time, it is necessary to increase the available resources to meet the growing demands. The data presented clearly show the challenges the French healthcare system currently faces.

The study results have been reported by various media, including the websites of Drees and the Ministry of Health, as well as in reports in major French newspapers. These data represent an important basis for political decisions aimed at improving emergency care and increasing patient satisfaction.