Public Paediatrics waiting time 2026: how long Hospital Authority Paediatrics new cases wait, by cluster
From October 2025 to September 2026, the median waiting time for stable new cases in Hospital Authority paediatrics was 11 to 25 weeks by cluster (about 3 to 6 months); the medians for urgent and semi-urgent new cases were about 1 week or less and 4 to 7 weeks respectively. The actual order is decided by healthcare staff according to the patient's condition.
How long do paediatrics new cases wait in each cluster?
The table below shows the new-case waiting times of the Hospital Authority's paediatrics specialist outpatient clinics by cluster. From October 2025 to September 2026 there were 28,621 booked paediatrics new cases, about 67% of them stable new cases.
‘Stable (90th percentile)’ is what the Hospital Authority calls the ‘longest’ waiting time: nine in ten stable new cases were seen before this point; it does not mean you will necessarily wait this long; for how to read the figures, see How to read Hospital Authority waiting times.
| Hospital cluster | Urgent (median) | Semi-urgent (median) | Stable (median) | Stable (90th percentile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong East | Less than 1 week | 6 weeks | 13 weeks | 15 weeks |
| Hong Kong West | 1 week | 4 weeks | 18 weeks | 26 weeks |
| Kowloon Central | Less than 1 week | 4 weeks | 11 weeks | 26 weeks |
| Kowloon East | Less than 1 week | 4 weeks | 11 weeks | 33 weeks |
| Kowloon West | Less than 1 week | 4 weeks | 21 weeks | 30 weeks |
| New Territories East | 1 week | 4 weeks | 24 weeks | 30 weeks |
| New Territories West | Less than 1 week | 7 weeks | 25 weeks | 30 weeks |
How is the order of the wait decided?
Referred cases are usually first assessed by a nurse and then reviewed by a specialist, and are classified into three categories: urgent, semi-urgent and stable. The Hospital Authority's target is to keep the median waiting time for urgent and semi-urgent new cases within two weeks and eight weeks respectively.
You can choose to book in another cluster, but healthcare staff might, depending on your condition, advise you to attend a clinic near your home.
How do I book a new paediatrics case?
Specialist outpatient clinics mainly treat patients referred by Family Medicine Clinics, private doctors or family doctors.
A referral letter issued by a locally registered doctor within the past three months is required to book a new case; for some specialties, requests can be submitted through the ‘BookHA’ feature in HA Go, subject to what the app shows.
If your condition gets worse while you wait, you can contact the clinic to ask for an earlier appointment; in an emergency, go to an Accident and Emergency Department.
Common misunderstandings
‘The Hospital Authority promises that urgent cases see a doctor within two weeks’: not so. Two weeks and eight weeks are the targets the Hospital Authority sets for the median waiting time of urgent and semi-urgent new cases, not a deadline for every patient; when a target is met, at least half of the cases are seen before then.
‘The “longest” waiting time is how long everyone has to wait’: not so. ‘Longest’ is the 90th percentile for stable new cases; nine in ten cases were seen before this point, and your actual wait is arranged according to your condition.
How much do public specialist outpatient clinics charge?
From 1 January 2026, Eligible Persons pay HK$250 per attendance at Hospital Authority specialist outpatient clinics and HK$20 per prescribed drug item (charged in units of 4 weeks), with separate charges for some laboratory tests and non-emergency radiology examinations; Non-eligible Persons pay HK$850 per specialist outpatient attendance.
If you have financial difficulty, you can apply for a medical fee waiver; the Hospital Authority also has an annual fee cap of HK$10,000, for which an application is required and no means test applies.
For the paediatric consultation fees published by the private hospitals and medical centres this site reviewed, see Private paediatrician fees compared.
Frequently asked questions
What is the longest wait for public paediatrics?
What the Hospital Authority calls the ‘longest’ is the 90th percentile for stable new cases, which from October 2025 to September 2026 was 15 to 33 weeks by cluster (about 3 to 8 months). That is, nine in ten stable new cases were seen before this point; it does not mean you will necessarily wait this long.
Can I book in a cluster with a shorter wait?
You can choose to book in another cluster, but healthcare staff might, depending on your condition, advise you to attend a clinic near your home.
How long is a referral letter valid?
A referral letter issued by a locally registered doctor, dated within the past three months, must be provided to book a new case.
What should I do if my condition gets worse while I wait?
If your condition gets worse while you wait, you can contact the clinic to ask for an earlier appointment; in an emergency, go to an Accident and Emergency Department.