Gilbert Bain Hospital
NHS general hospital · Shetland Islands
Checking opening times…
Today is a bank holiday: opening times may be different. Call before you go.
Gilbert Bain Hospital is an NHS general hospital in Shetland Islands, Scotland, run by NHS Shetland. See whether it has an A&E, its phone number, visiting and how to get there.
At a glance
- A&E
- A&E open 24 hours
- Planned care wait
- Half waited less than 8.7 weeks (whole health board)
- Telephone
- 01595 743000
Information checked 2 November 2026.
Urgent help
Call 999 or go to A&E if someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk. If it is urgent but not life-threatening, call NHS 24 on 111, free, day or night.
A&E waiting times
89% of people who went to this department were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours, out of 164 attendances (week ending 18 October 2026).
These are the latest weekly figures from Public Health Scotland, for this site. The figures come from the official statistics and change often. In an emergency, go to the nearest A&E or call 999.
Waiting for planned treatment
These figures are for the whole of NHS Shetland, not just Gilbert Bain Hospital. Waits at this hospital may be shorter or longer.
These are people still waiting at the end of September 2026 for a first outpatient appointment or for inpatient or day case treatment. The tables show the 5 specialties with the most people waiting. “Half waited less than” is the median wait.
| Specialty | People waiting | Half waited less than | 90 in 100 waited less than | Waiting 12 weeks or less |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Surgery | 302 | 7.9 weeks | 25 weeks | 62.3% |
| Ophthalmology | 206 | 15 weeks | 37 weeks | 44.2% |
| Gynaecology | 150 | 13 weeks | 28 weeks | 44% |
| General Medicine | 138 | 7.7 weeks | 19 weeks | 68.8% |
| Paediatrics | 120 | 16 weeks | 34 weeks | 43.3% |
| All specialties | 1,336 | 8.7 weeks | 28 weeks | 59.4% |
Show all 14 specialties
| Specialty | People waiting | Half waited less than | 90 in 100 waited less than | Waiting 12 weeks or less |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dermatology | 101 | 13 weeks | 27 weeks | 43.6% |
| Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery | 79 | 3.9 weeks | 13 weeks | 87.3% |
| Rheumatology | 72 | 7.9 weeks | 26 weeks | 59.7% |
| Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) | 67 | 3.7 weeks | 11 weeks | 91% |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | 57 | 5.7 weeks | 17 weeks | 75.4% |
| Endocrinology | 25 | 4.7 weeks | 9.2 weeks | 96% |
| Pain Management | 13 | not available | not available | 100% |
| Renal Medicine | 5 | not available | not available | 60% |
| Paediatric Surgery | 1 | not available | not available | 100% |
| Specialty | People waiting | Half waited less than | 90 in 100 waited less than | Waiting 12 weeks or less |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ophthalmology | 176 | 30 weeks | 48 weeks | 3.4% |
| General Surgery | 79 | 5.3 weeks | 22 weeks | 73.4% |
| Gynaecology | 62 | 12 weeks | 29 weeks | 46.8% |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | 59 | 23 weeks | 75 weeks | 45.8% |
| Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) | 31 | 7.1 weeks | 13 weeks | 87.1% |
| All specialties | 449 | 17 weeks | 44 weeks | 39.6% |
Show all 10 specialties
| Specialty | People waiting | Half waited less than | 90 in 100 waited less than | Waiting 12 weeks or less |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain Management | 22 | 2.1 weeks | 4.1 weeks | 100% |
| Oral Surgery | 16 | not available | not available | 31.2% |
| General Medicine | 2 | not available | not available | 100% |
| Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery | 1 | not available | not available | 100% |
| Paediatric Surgery | 1 | not available | not available | 100% |
Source: Public Health Scotland, Stage of Treatment Waiting Times (September 2026). Official statistics for the health board as a whole. Open Government Licence v3.0.
Opening times
The A&E department is open 24 hours. Outpatient clinics, tests and scans run at set times, so check your appointment letter or call the hospital.
Appointments and access
First outpatient appointments
To see a specialist at an NHS hospital, you usually need a referral, for example from your GP, dentist or optometrist. Your appointment letter or text message tells you when and where to go.
Contact
Main telephone
Telephone: 01595 743000
Location and travel
Address and map
Gilbert Bain Hospital
South Rd
Lerwick
Shetland
ZE1 0TB
Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026.
Public transport and parking
Links found on the official website, checked 2 November 2026.
Getting here by public transport
There is no railway, metro or tram station within 2 km.
Nearest bus stop: Gilbert Bain Hospital, South Road, about 2 minutes' walk.
Public transport directions (opens Google Maps)
Walking times are estimates from the straight-line distance to the hospital. Stations and bus stops are from the National Public Transport Access Nodes (NaPTAN), Department for Transport, 26 October 2026. NaPTAN does not list which routes call at each stop: check the operator or a journey planner before you travel, especially if you need step-free access. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Facilities
We do not have details of step-free access, parking or other facilities here yet. If you need them, contact the hospital before you go.
Visiting
Visiting times and rules can change, for example during outbreaks. Check the hospital's own pages before you go:
Links found on the official website (some cover the whole health board, not just this hospital), checked 2 November 2026.
Book, change or complain
About this hospital
| NHS board | NHS Shetland |
|---|---|
| Type | NHS general hospital |
| NHS or private | NHS |
| Local authority | Shetland Islands |
Official website: Gilbert Bain Hospital website
Hospital services
Public Health Scotland lists beds in these specialties at this hospital (2025/26):
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
- Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)
- General Medicine
- General Surgery
- Gynaecology
- Obstetrics
- Ophthalmology
- Oral Surgery
- Paediatrics
- Respiratory Medicine
- Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery
Specialties come from official bed statistics, so clinics without beds are not shown. Check with the hospital.
Regulation and quality
Healthcare Improvement Scotland inspects hospitals in Scotland and publishes reports, but does not give NHS hospitals a single overall rating like the CQC in England. Read about inspections.
Sources: Public Health Scotland: Current NHS Hospitals in Scotland; telephone number from the official website, checked 2 November 2026; location from the ONS Postcode Directory.
Frequently asked questions
What is the telephone number for Gilbert Bain Hospital?
Telephone: 01595 743000.
Does Gilbert Bain Hospital have an A&E department?
Yes. It has an A&E department open 24 hours.
Nearby hospitals
A&E open 24 hours
Bankhead Road, Wick, KW1 5NS
About 136.5 miles away
Minor injuries unit
Ormlie Road, Thurso, KW14 7XE
About 137.0 miles away
No A&E
Hospital Road, Wick, KW1 5NQ
About 137.0 miles away
Minor injuries unit
Lochpots Road, Fraserburgh, AB43 9NH
About 173.0 miles away
Minor injuries unit
Clunie Street, Banff, AB45 1JA
About 178.3 miles away
Distances are straight-line estimates from postcode locations.
Looking for somewhere nearer you?
PharmacyGPDentistA&E and urgent care
Your location stays on your device. We do not send or store it. You can also enter a postcode.
Printed from https://ukhospitals.uk/hospital/gilbert-bain-hospital/ on 12 November 2026.