Emergency Departments in France: Patients Spend an Average of 3 Hours and 10 Minutes Before Treatment Begins

Paris – 02.06.2026: The average waiting time in French emergency departments reached a new record level in 2023. A study by the French Ministry of Health showed that patients wait an average of 3 hours and 10 minutes before the start of medical treatment. This is about one hour longer compared to data from 2013.

The study describes not only the total time until treatment begins but also provides a detailed analysis of individual phases of the stay. Thus, half of the patients wait less than 8 minutes for the initial assessment, the so-called triage. After this assessment, less than 16 minutes pass on average until the actual start of treatment. Overall, the time from registration to the start of treatment for half of the patients is less than 30 minutes. At the same time, about 10 percent of emergency patients wait more than two hours.

The length of stay varies significantly depending on the course of treatment. Patients who are discharged home after treatment stay in the emergency department on average 2 hours and 30 minutes. Those who are hospitalized stay significantly longer: their average length of stay exceeds five hours. The situation is especially difficult for patients transferred to short-term observation units. There, the average length of stay almost reaches 15 hours.

The study highlights various reasons for the increase in waiting times. Structural problems in the French healthcare system play an important role. In particular, a shortage of general practitioners leads many patients to choose emergency departments as their first point of contact for medical problems, even if the case is not urgent. Also, the increase in elderly patients with more complex health problems contributes to longer lengths of stay. Overburdening of emergency department staff and infrastructure results in increased waiting times and complicates timely provision of care.

The increase in waiting times raises doubts about the safety and quality of medical care. Prolonged delays can negatively affect treatment outcomes, especially in critical cases. Experts call for improved organization of work and enhanced cooperation between outpatient and inpatient care to reduce the burden on emergency services. At the same time, resources need to be increased to adequately meet growing demands. The available data clearly demonstrate the challenges faced by the French healthcare system today.

The results of the study were reported in various media, including the websites of Drees and the Ministry of Health, as well as in publications of leading French daily newspapers. They serve as an important basis for political decisions aimed at improving the emergency care system and increasing patient satisfaction.