How do I check the current A&E wait time at The James Cook University Hospital?
The live waiting time for the A&E at The James Cook University Hospital is shown at the top of this page, together with when it was last updated. Times are reported by recent visitors and carry a community badge - after your own visit you can submit your wait time in a few seconds to help the next person.
When is the A&E at The James Cook University Hospital quietest?
Patterns vary by hospital, but across UK urgent and emergency care the quietest window is usually the early morning, roughly 4am to 7am, with demand building through the afternoon and peaking in the evening. Friday and Saturday nights and Monday mornings are typically the busiest periods. See our
guide to the best time to visit for more detail.
How long will I wait at The James Cook University Hospital A&E?
Patients are triaged on arrival and the most urgent cases are always seen first, so your wait depends on how serious your condition is and how busy the department is. Hospitals in England work to the NHS four-hour standard - the aim is to admit, transfer or discharge patients within four hours of arrival. The live figure on this page shows how The James Cook University Hospital is doing right now. NHS England's most recent figures (September 2026) show 47.8% of patients across the trust's A&E departments were seen within four hours.
How often are the waiting times on this page updated?
This page updates whenever a visitor submits a new wait time, so freshness depends on recent reports - each entry shows when that person visited. If you have been to The James Cook University Hospital recently, submitting your wait takes a few seconds and helps others plan.
Is the A&E at The James Cook University Hospital open 24 hours?
Yes - the A&E at The James Cook University Hospital is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. In a life-threatening emergency always call 999.
Where is The James Cook University Hospital and how do I get there?
The James Cook University Hospital is at Marton Road, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, TS4 3BW. For general enquiries call 01642 850850. Enter your postcode in the
Getting here section for a door-to-door route.
Is parking free at The James Cook University Hospital?
No - patient and visitor parking here averages about £1.40 an hour (NHS estates return, 2024-25). The site lists 3,390 parking spaces, including 136 designated disabled bays. Concessions often apply for blue badge holders, frequent attenders and some patients - check the hospital's own parking page.
What is the CQC rating for The James Cook University Hospital?
The James Cook University Hospital is rated
Good overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England, following an inspection in November 2023. It rated the hospital's urgent and emergency services
Good when they were last inspected in May 2023. You can read the
full CQC report.
Can children be treated at The James Cook University Hospital A&E?
This A&E serves: Under 16 years. If your child's age group is not treated here, the nearby section on this page lists alternatives - or call NHS 111 for urgent advice and 999 in an emergency.
Is The James Cook University Hospital a Major Trauma Centre?
Yes - The James Cook University Hospital is a designated Major Trauma Centre, equipped for the most serious emergencies including major injuries and complex surgery. The most severely injured patients in the region are taken here, sometimes bypassing closer hospitals.