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Psychiatry Specialist Outpatient Waiting Times

ClusterUrgent Case (Median)Semi-urgent Case (Median)Stable Case (Median)Stable Case (Longest)
Hong Kong East ClusterLess than 1 week3 weeks27 weeks69 weeks
Hong Kong West Cluster1 week3 weeks46 weeks84 weeks
Kowloon Central ClusterLess than 1 week3 weeks25 weeks74 weeks
Kowloon East Cluster1 week3 weeks41 weeks85 weeks
Kowloon West ClusterLess than 1 week2 weeks19 weeks84 weeks
New Territories East Cluster1 week3 weeks69 weeks104 weeks
New Territories West Cluster1 week2 weeks46 weeks84 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: 30 October 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.