Royal Albert Edward Infirmary
NHS hospital · Wigan
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Royal Albert Edward Infirmary is an NHS hospital in Wigan, run by Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. 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 14 weeks (whole trust)
- CQC rating
- Requires improvement (published 16 September 2026)
- Telephone
- 01942 244000
Information checked 16 October 2026.
Urgent help
Call 999 or go to A&E if someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk. For urgent help that is not an emergency, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
Waiting times at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
These figures are for the whole trust, which runs 3 hospitals listed on this site, not just Royal Albert Edward Infirmary. Waits at this hospital may be shorter or longer.
Other hospitals in this trust:
A&E: time spent in A&E
43.4% of people who went to the trust’s major A&E departments in September 2026 were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours.
7,034 attendances. England average for major A&E departments: 60.6%. In an emergency, go to the nearest A&E or call 999.
Compare A&E waiting times at other hospitals.
Waiting for planned treatment
These are people who were still waiting at the end of August 2026 for non-urgent treatment led by a consultant, counted from the referral. The table shows the trust’s 5 specialties with the most people waiting. “Half waited less than” is the median wait. The NHS maximum waiting time for non-urgent, consultant-led treatment is 18 weeks.
| Specialty | People waiting | Half waited less than | 92 in 100 waited less than | Waiting under 18 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trauma and orthopaedics | 9,385 | 13 weeks | 41 weeks | 62.5% |
| Ear, nose and throat | 4,781 | 19 weeks | 45 weeks | 48.3% |
| Gastroenterology | 4,527 | 16 weeks | 46 weeks | 53.9% |
| Cardiology | 3,228 | 11 weeks | 34 weeks | 67.9% |
| Dermatology | 3,095 | 13 weeks | 38 weeks | 61.5% |
| All specialties | 46,291 | 14 weeks | 42 weeks | 60.5% |
Show all 16 specialties at this trust
| Specialty | People waiting | Half waited less than | 92 in 100 waited less than | Waiting under 18 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gynaecology | 2,798 | 15 weeks | 42 weeks | 58.4% |
| Children's services (paediatrics) | 2,786 | 14 weeks | 39 weeks | 61.6% |
| General surgery | 2,129 | 20 weeks | 51 weeks | 44.5% |
| Respiratory medicine | 2,023 | 12 weeks | 31 weeks | 66.7% |
| Urology | 1,987 | 12 weeks | 38 weeks | 65.7% |
| Ophthalmology | 1,595 | 6.8 weeks | 26 weeks | 81.5% |
| Oral surgery | 1,491 | 13 weeks | 38 weeks | 63.5% |
| Rheumatology | 835 | 7.7 weeks | 21 weeks | 85.5% |
| Elderly medicine | 277 | 11 weeks | 36 weeks | 69.7% |
| General internal medicine | 140 | 9.8 weeks | 30 weeks | 80.7% |
| Cardiothoracic surgery | 24 | 19 weeks | 36 weeks | 45.8% |
If your GP refers you, in most cases you have the legal right to choose which hospital you go to for your first appointment. Compare waiting times at hospitals near you.
Source: NHS England, Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times (August 2026, published 8 October 2026) and A&E Attendances and Emergency Admissions (September 2026). Official statistics for the trust as a whole. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence.
Procedures at this hospital
Published figures for Royal Albert Edward Infirmary from national audits and NHS statistics, from the UK Hospitals Guide. Each guide page explains what the figures mean and compares hospitals in the North West. This is not a ranking.
Figures for this hospital
- Hip replacement
346Joint replacements, all joints, 2025 (NJR)
Middle hospital in the North West: 667Fewer than 400. NJR outlier analysis (90-day mortality and revision rates): Not identified as an outlier - Knee replacement
346Joint replacements, all joints, 2025 (NJR)
Middle hospital in the North West: 667Fewer than 400. NJR outlier analysis (revision rates): Not identified as an outlier - Hip fracture surgery
419People treated for a hip fracture, 2025 (NHFD)
Middle hospital in the North West: 422400 to 499. Deaths within 30 days (case-mix adjusted): 5% - Emergency bowel surgery (emergency laparotomy)
138Emergency laparotomies, NELA year 11
Middle hospital in the North West: 118100 to 149. Deaths within 30 days (risk-adjusted): Within the 95% funnel limits - Stroke care
69Stroke patients, January to March 2026 (SSNAP)
Middle hospital in the North West: 139Stroke team. Fewer than 75. SSNAP level (A is highest, E lowest): Level D
Figures for the whole trust
These are published for the trust as a whole. The operation may be done at another of its hospitals.
- Bowel cancer surgery Major bowel cancer operations, 2024 (NBOCA): fewer than 100 (94). Deaths within 90 days of surgery (adjusted): 4.3%
- Breast cancer surgery Women having breast cancer surgery, 2021 to 2023 (NAoPri): 600 to 999 (965). Further operation after breast-conserving surgery (adjusted): 16.3%
- Carpal tunnel release treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 750 to 1,499
- Lumbar decompression (lower back surgery) treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 150 to 399
- Coronary artery bypass graft (heart bypass) treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,500 to 2,999
- Coronary angioplasty and stents treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,500 to 2,999
- Varicose vein treatment treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: fewer than 600
- Inguinal hernia repair treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 2,500 to 2,999
- Gallbladder removal treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,000 to 1,999
- Haemorrhoid (piles) surgery
- Weight loss surgery
- Cataract surgery treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,500 to 2,999
- Tonsil removal (tonsillectomy) treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,500 to 2,999
- Grommets for glue ear treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 300 to 499
- Hysterectomy treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: fewer than 1,500
- Giving birth and caesarean section treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: fewer than 3,000
- Prostate surgery for an enlarged prostate (TURP)
- Kidney stone treatment
Sources: national clinical audits (NJR, NHFD, NELA, SSNAP, NATCAN, NVR) and NHS England statistics, under the Open Government Licence or CC BY 4.0. Data updated 26 October 2026.
Opening times
Opening days and times
Hospital wards are staffed 24 hours a day. The A&E department is open 24 hours a day, every day.
Outpatient clinics, tests and scans run at set times. Your appointment letter or text message tells you when and where to go.
See Visiting for visiting times.
Visiting information on the hospital website
A&E status: NHS England emergency care data (Emergency Care Data Set, August 2026).
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.
In most cases you have the right to choose which hospital you are referred to for your first outpatient appointment.
Your referral is usually booked through the NHS e-Referral Service. You can then manage it in the NHS App or on the NHS website.
Some services let you refer yourself, such as maternity care.
If you already have an appointment, use the phone number on your appointment letter.
Contact the hospital to book or to ask about appointments.
Contact
Main telephone
Telephone: 01942 244000
Contact the hospital to book or to ask about appointments.
Location and travel
Address and map
Royal Albert Edward Infirmary
The Elms
Royal Albert Edward Infirmary
Wigan Lane
Wigan
WN1 2NN
Find care near here
Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026.
Public transport and parking
Links found on the official website, checked 24 October 2026.
Getting here by public transport
There is no station within 1 km. The nearest station is:
- Wigan Wallgate about 24 minutes' walkNational Rail
Nearest bus stop: Royal Albert Edward Infirmary (Stop A), about 1 minute's 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.
Car parking
Car parking is ticketless (number-plate based) and you pay on exit by cash or card. Up to 30 minutes drop-off is free, then up to two hours £3.20, up to four hours £5.70 and four to 24 hours £7.50. A new multi-storey car park on Freckleton Street, a short walk away, charges the same rates.
Blue Badge holders park free on the hospital site; display the badge in the windscreen and scan it at the payment machine before exit. This does not apply in the Freckleton Street multi-storey, where Blue Badge holders do not get free parking.
From the hospital's car parking page, checked 15 November 2026. Charges and car park rules can change, so check before you travel.
NHS hospitals in England must offer free car parking to Blue Badge holders who are patients or visitors, outpatients who attend at least 3 times in a month for at least 3 months, the parent or guardian of a child under 18 staying in overnight (7.30pm to 8am, up to 2 vehicles) and staff working night shifts. Ask the hospital how to claim it, as you may need to register your vehicle.
Source: NHS car parking guidance, Department of Health and Social Care (updated 29 March 2022), checked 15 November 2026.
Facilities
For step-free routes, entrances, accessible toilets and parking, see the access guide for this hospital.
Link found on the official website, checked 24 October 2026.
Visiting
Visiting times
Visiting times are set by each ward and are listed on the individual ward information pages.
From the hospital's visiting page, checked 15 November 2026.
Visiting times and rules can change, for example during outbreaks. Check the hospital's own pages before you go:
Links found on the hospital's official website, checked 24 October 2026.
Book, change or complain
- Book or manage your first outpatient appointment
- Patient advice (PALS) and other contact details
- This hospital on the NHS website
- Manage your referral (NHS e-Referral Service)
- What the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) does
- Read inspection reports (CQC)
- Get an email when CQC inspects this hospital
- Tell CQC about your care
- Find your local Healthwatch
About this hospital
| Provider | Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
|---|---|
| Type | NHS hospital |
| NHS or private | NHS |
| Local authority | Wigan |
More details
| NHS organisation code | RRF02 |
|---|---|
| CQC location ID | RRF02 |
Official website: Royal Albert Edward Infirmary website
Hospital services
CQC lists these regulated service types at this location:
- Clinic
- Diagnosis/screening
- Hospital
- Urgent care centres
Service types are regulatory categories, not a full list of departments. Being registered for a service does not always mean it is running now. Check with the hospital.
Regulation and quality
This location is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The latest published ratings are below.
| Area | Rating | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | Requires improvement | 16 September 2026 |
| Caring | Good | 16 September 2026 |
| Effective | Good | 16 September 2026 |
| Responsive | Requires improvement | 16 September 2026 |
| Safe | Requires improvement | 16 September 2026 |
| Well-led | Requires improvement | 16 September 2026 |
Read the CQC report for Royal Albert Edward Infirmary
Frequently asked questions
What is the telephone number for Royal Albert Edward Infirmary?
Telephone: 01942 244000.
Is there parking at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary?
Car parking is ticketless (number-plate based) and you pay on exit by cash or card. Up to 30 minutes drop-off is free, then up to two hours £3.20, up to four hours £5.70 and four to 24 hours £7.50. A new multi-storey car park on Freckleton Street, a short walk away, charges the same rates. Blue Badge holders park free on the hospital site; display the badge in the windscreen and scan it at the payment machine before exit. This does not apply in the Freckleton Street multi-storey, where Blue Badge holders do not get free parking. Checked 15 November 2026.
What are the visiting hours at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary?
Visiting times are set by each ward and are listed on the individual ward information pages. Checked 15 November 2026; wards can change their times, so check before you go.
What is the CQC rating of Royal Albert Edward Infirmary?
The latest overall CQC rating is Requires improvement, published 16 September 2026.
Nearby hospitals
Chorley and South Ribble Hospital
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Distances are straight-line estimates from postcode locations.
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Printed from https://ukhospitals.uk/hospital/royal-albert-edward-infirmary/ on 15 November 2026.