Ear, Nose, Throat Specialist Outpatient Waiting Times
| Cluster | Urgent Case (Median) | Semi-urgent Case (Median) | Stable Case (Median) | Stable Case (Longest) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong East Cluster | Less than 1 week | 6 weeks | 21 weeks | 55 weeks |
| Hong Kong West Cluster | Less than 1 week | 7 weeks | 29 weeks | 54 weeks |
| Kowloon Central Cluster | Less than 1 week | 4 weeks | 41 weeks | 70 weeks |
| Kowloon East Cluster | Less than 1 week | 5 weeks | 80 weeks | 84 weeks |
| Kowloon West Cluster | 1 week | 4 weeks | 34 weeks | 83 weeks |
| New Territories East Cluster | Less than 1 week | 5 weeks | 39 weeks | 77 weeks |
| New Territories West Cluster | Less than 1 week | 5 weeks | 41 weeks | 54 weeks |
These are median and longest reference waiting times for new case bookings — actual waits vary by clinical priority and individual clinic scheduling
Next update: 31 July 2026
Published by the Hospital Authority quarterly (January, April, July, October)
How are triage categories and waiting times determined?
Referrals are usually first screened by a nurse, then assessed by a specialist in the relevant field, and classified as Urgent (Priority 1), Semi-urgent (Priority 2), or Stable (Routine). The Hospital Authority aims to arrange consultations for urgent and semi-urgent cases within 2 and 8 weeks respectively. For stable cases — which make up the large majority of referrals — both the median and the 90th-percentile ("Longest") waiting time are published: the median means half of patients wait within this time, while "Longest" reflects the wait experienced by most patients. These are aggregate statistics, not a booking guarantee for any individual patient — the actual appointment date still depends on clinical assessment and each clinic's own arrangements.
Hospitals offering this specialty
This list is compiled from the Hospital Authority's Specialist Out-patient Clinic finder, for reference only and not exhaustive. Please contact the hospital directly to confirm its latest service scope.