A&E data for September 2026, published 8 October 2026
A&E waiting times in Reading
How quickly people are seen at A&E at the hospital trust serving Reading, from NHS England’s monthly A&E attendances and emergency admissions statistics for September 2026.
If it is not an emergency, NHS 111 online or calling 111 can tell you where to go, including urgent treatment centres, which often have shorter waits. Call 999 or go to A&E for life-threatening emergencies such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding or signs of a stroke.
No licensed live feed is available for this trust, so the figures below are the latest monthly NHS England statistics. Live waits for Northern Ireland and hospitals that publish their own are on our live A&E page.
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
In September 2026, 74.6% of the 19,289 people attending A&E at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours. That is 0.2 points above the England average of 74.4% and 1.6 points below the South East average of 76.2%. It ranks 47 of 120 trusts with a major A&E in England and 8 of 17 in South East (1 = highest share within 4 hours). At the main emergency department (type 1), 62.9% spent 4 hours or less, against 60.6% across England. 2,267 patients were admitted as emergencies through A&E, and 0 waited more than 12 hours from the decision to admit them to being admitted.
Over the last 13 months the 4-hour figure has ranged from 73.1% (January 2026) to 77.9% (July 2026); it is down 0.3 points since September 2025.
Royal Berkshire: % within 4 hours of arrival England
Month by month
| Month | Within 4 hours | Attendances | 12-hour waits (decision to admit) | England within 4 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 74.6% | 19,289 | 0 | 74.4% |
| August 2026 | 75.4% | 18,118 | 0 | 75.0% |
| July 2026 | 77.9% | 19,208 | 17 | 75.4% |
| June 2026 | 76.1% | 18,963 | 47 | 75.0% |
| May 2026 | 75.4% | 19,346 | 17 | 75.7% |
| April 2026 | 76.5% | 18,247 | 16 | 76.9% |
| March 2026 | 76.9% | 18,612 | 28 | 77.1% |
| February 2026 | 75.4% | 16,055 | 52 | 74.1% |
| January 2026 | 73.1% | 17,640 | 11 | 72.5% |
| December 2025 | 76.4% | 17,314 | 12 | 73.8% |
| November 2025 | 77.8% | 17,419 | 7 | 74.2% |
| October 2025 | 74.6% | 18,334 | 13 | 74.2% |
| September 2025 | 74.9% | 17,467 | 12 | 75.1% |
How Reading compares
| Area | Within 4 hours (all) | Within 4 hours (type 1) | Attendances | 12-hour waits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | 74.6% | 62.9% | 19,289 | 0 |
| South East region | 76.2% | 63.5% | 376,448 | 6,776 |
| England | 74.4% | 60.6% | 2,444,743 | 50,582 |
Nearby towns and their hospital trusts
Figures are for the whole trust, which may run more than one emergency department.
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | Within 4 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maidenhead | 12 miles | Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust | 75.3% |
| Basingstoke | 13 miles | Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 62.5% |
| Slough | 17 miles | Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust | 75.3% |
| Woking | 20 miles | Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 67.1% |
| Guildford | 23 miles | Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust | 73.2% |
| Oxford | 24 miles | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 79.5% |
| Winchester | 31 miles | Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 62.5% |
| Epsom | 31 miles | Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust | 70.8% |
About A&E types
Type 1 departments are major, consultant-led A&Es open 24 hours with full resuscitation facilities. Types 2 and 3 are single-specialty units (such as eye casualty), urgent treatment centres and minor injury units. The “all types” figure includes all of these, which is why it is usually higher than the type 1 figure.
See the national A&E league table and the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the A&E waiting time in Reading?
In September 2026, 74.6% of people attending A&E at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours (England 74.4%). The NHS standard is 95%.
How many people wait over 12 hours at A&E in Reading?
0 patients at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust waited more than 12 hours from the decision to admit them to being admitted in September 2026. This measure counts only patients being admitted, not everyone in the department.
Is Reading A&E better or worse than average?
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust ranked 47 of 120 trusts with a major A&E for the share of patients who spent 4 hours or less in A&E in September 2026, 0.2 points above the England average.
Should I go to A&E or call 111?
If it is not an emergency, NHS 111 online or calling 111 can tell you where to go, including urgent treatment centres, which often have shorter waits. Call 999 or go to A&E for life-threatening emergencies such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding or signs of a stroke.