Psychiatry waiting time 2026: how long do public Psychiatry new cases wait? Hospital Authority figures by cluster
From October 2025 to September 2026, the median waiting time for stable new cases in Hospital Authority Psychiatry was 23 to 58 weeks by cluster (about 5 to 13 months); the medians for urgent and semi-urgent new cases were about 1 week or less and 2 to 3 weeks respectively. The actual order is decided by healthcare staff according to the patient's condition.
How long do new Psychiatry cases wait in each cluster?
The table below shows the new-case waiting times of the Hospital Authority's Psychiatry specialist outpatient clinics by cluster. From October 2025 to September 2026 there were 53,779 booked new cases in Psychiatry in total, about 78% 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 | 3 weeks | 28 weeks | 68 weeks |
| Hong Kong West | 1 week | 3 weeks | 45 weeks | 84 weeks |
| Kowloon Central | Less than 1 week | 3 weeks | 26 weeks | 73 weeks |
| Kowloon East | 1 week | 3 weeks | 50 weeks | 86 weeks |
| Kowloon West | Less than 1 week | 2 weeks | 23 weeks | 82 weeks |
| New Territories East | 1 week | 3 weeks | 58 weeks | 103 weeks |
| New Territories West | 1 week | 2 weeks | 45 weeks | 82 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 Psychiatry case?
Specialist outpatient clinics mainly treat patients referred by Family Medicine Clinics, private doctors or family doctors.
Booking a new case requires a referral letter issued by a locally registered doctor within the past three months; the list of specialties for new-case booking through ‘BookHA’ announced by the Hospital Authority in 2018 did not include psychiatry, and the specialties currently available for booking through HA Go are as shown in the app.
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.
For other official help routes, see Where can I get help for emotional distress or anxiety?; for choosing between public and private psychiatry, see How to choose a psychiatrist.
Common misunderstandings
The claim that ‘the Hospital Authority promises urgent cases will see a doctor within two weeks’ is wrong: two weeks and eight weeks are 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 claim that ‘the “longest” waiting time is how long everyone waits’ is wrong: the ‘longest’ is the 90th percentile for stable new cases, nine in ten cases are seen before then, 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 attendance at specialist outpatient clinics.
People with financial difficulties can apply for medical fee waivers; the Hospital Authority also has an annual fee cap of HK$10,000, which must be applied for and has no means test.
Frequently asked questions
What is the longest wait for Psychiatry in the public system?
The ‘longest’ waiting time as the Hospital Authority puts it is the 90th percentile for stable new cases, which from October 2025 to September 2026 was 68 to 103 weeks by cluster (about 16 to 24 months). That is, nine in ten stable new cases were seen before then; 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 new-case booking requires a referral letter issued by a locally registered doctor within the past three months.
What should I do if my condition gets worse while waiting?
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.
How long do public Psychiatry new cases generally wait?
From October 2025 to September 2026, the median waiting time for stable new cases in Hospital Authority Psychiatry was 23 to 58 weeks by cluster (about 5 to 13 months); the medians for urgent and semi-urgent new cases were about 1 week or less and 2 to 3 weeks respectively. The actual order is decided by healthcare staff according to the patient's condition.
How much does public psychiatry cost?
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 attendance at specialist outpatient clinics.