East of England · SS0 0RY
Southend University Hospital
Southend University Hospital is an acute hospital in Westcliff-on-Sea with an A&E department including a paediatric emergency department, and a same day emergency care unit. It has a central delivery suite, a midwife-led birthing unit, a fetal medicine unit and a neonatal intensive care unit, plus the Balmoral haematology and oncology unit.
Contact details, visiting and parking from the hospital’s official website, checked on 26 September 2026. Please check with the hospital before you travel.
Southend University Hospital phone numbers
Main switchboard0300 443 0002Overseas: +44 (0)300 443 0002; trust-wide switchboard 0300 443 0000- A&E0300 443 9992
- Children's A&EAlso 0300 443 1184 or 0300 443 12980300 443 8745
- Central Delivery Suite0300 443 0022
- Midwife-led birthing unit0300 443 3022
- Neonatal unit0300 443 2371
- Same Day Emergency Care (Dowsett ward)0300 443 0562
- Paediatric Assessment Unit0300 443 1480
- PALS (patient advice and liaison)Mon–Fri 11am–2pm (excluding bank holidays); option 1 Broomfield, option 2 Southend, option 3 Basildon; no walk-in service0300 443 0330
PALS email: Broomfield: mse.public.response@nhs.net; Southend: mse.pals.suhft@nhs.net; Basildon: mse.pals.btuh@nhs.net
In an emergency call 999. For urgent medical advice call NHS 111.
Where is Southend University Hospital?
Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, SS0 0RY
Directions in Google MapsNearest NHS hospitals
Visiting times at Southend University Hospital
Adult wards
Most adult wards 11am–8pm (times are set ward by ward)
Maternity
Up to 2 visitorsOne nominated person can stay; postnatal wards 1pm–7pm; siblings 8am–8pm; no more than 2 adults at the bedside and no under-16s except siblings of the baby
Children's wards
Neptune children's ward and Paediatric Assessment Unit 11am–8pm
Intensive care
Ward 11am–8pm
Some wards differ (e.g. Chalkwell ward 11.30am–9pm). Parents have unrestricted access to the neonatal unit. Do not visit with cold or flu-like symptoms or after diarrhoea/vomiting in the last 48 hours.
Parking at Southend University Hospital
ANPR camera parking (no ticket to display); pay at an on-site payment terminal or with the 'Trust' parking app before leaving. Tariff in force from 31 July, covering Basildon, Broomfield, Southend and Orsett hospitals.
- up to 20 minutesFree
- up to 2 hours£4.00
- up to 3 hours£6.00
- up to 5 hours£8.00
- up to 6 hours£9.50
- 6 to 13 hours£12.00
- 13 to 24 hours£18.00
Free or reduced parking: Free for Blue Badge holders (register the vehicle online or validate at reception). Free permits for parents of children staying overnight or seriously ill, NICU parents, chemotherapy and renal patients, end-of-life and bereavement visitors, dementia carers and Pregnancy Pal / Birth Buddy; weekly concession tickets also available. Renal and chemotherapy patients use the dedicated car park off Carlingford Drive.
Getting there
- By busBuses run frequently throughout the day (no route numbers listed)
- By trainSouthend Central station (c2c and Greater Anglia), then a direct bus to the hospital (PlusBus tickets available); distance not stated
Shops, food and facilities
- Outpatient pharmacy (ground floor, Tower Block)
- Costa Coffee (Cardigan Building)
- Wellspring Restaurant (orders via the Time2Eat app)
How Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust performs
NHS England publishes waiting times for Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust as a whole, covering Southend University Hospital and the trust’s other hospitals.
Waiting-list data: July 2026Published by NHS England on · next release expected 8 October 2026 · sources
NHSQueue score: 0.9 out of 10
Among the worstMid and South Essex ranks 125 of 126 NHS hospital trusts in England on the latest official figures.
- Waiting list (share within 18 weeks)better than 0% of trusts
- A&E (seen within 4 hours)better than 32% of trusts
- Diagnostic tests (waiting under 6 weeks)better than 6% of trusts
- Cancer (28-day and 62-day standards)better than 1% of trusts
Each measure is compared with every other NHS hospital trust, then combined: waiting list 35%, A&E 20%, tests 15%, cancer 15%, CQC 15%. How the score works
Waiting list for planned treatment
18.1 weeksF wait grade
median wait · 49.8% under 18 weeks · 165,420 waiting
−206 waiting vs June 2026
Waiting times by specialty
A&E
70.2%
seen within 4 hours in August 2026 · 35,276 attendances
England: 75.0%
A&E waiting times
Diagnostic tests (MRI, CT, endoscopy…)
41.5%
waiting 6+ weeks · 32,339 waiting for a test
July 2026 · standard: under 1%
Test waits
Cancer: diagnosed within 28 days
67.5%
50.2% treated within 62 days
July 2026 · standard 75%
Cancer waiting times
Other hospitals run by Mid and South Essex
- Broomfield HospitalA&E open 24 hours · Court Rd, Broomfield, Chelmsford, CM1 7ET
- Basildon University HospitalA&E open 24 hours · Nethermayne, Basildon, Essex, SS16 5NL
- Orsett HospitalMinor injuries unit · Rowley Road, Orsett, Essex, RM16 3EU
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust: all hospitals and contact details →
Southend University Hospital: common questions
What is the phone number for Southend University Hospital?
The main number for Southend University Hospital is 0300 443 0002. Other useful numbers: a&e 0300 443 9992; children's a&e 0300 443 8745; central delivery suite 0300 443 0022. For help with a complaint or concern, PALS is on 0300 443 0330.
What are the visiting times at Southend University Hospital?
Adult wards: Most adult wards 11am–8pm (times are set ward by ward). Maternity: One nominated person can stay; postnatal wards 1pm–7pm; siblings 8am–8pm; no more than 2 adults at the bedside and no under-16s except siblings of the baby. Children's wards: Neptune children's ward and Paediatric Assessment Unit 11am–8pm. Check with the ward before you travel, as times can change.
How much is parking at Southend University Hospital?
ANPR camera parking (no ticket to display); pay at an on-site payment terminal or with the 'Trust' parking app before leaving. Tariff in force from 31 July, covering Basildon, Broomfield, Southend and Orsett hospitals. Charges: up to 20 minutes: Free, up to 2 hours: £4.00, up to 3 hours: £6.00, up to 5 hours: £8.00. Free for Blue Badge holders (register the vehicle online or validate at reception). Free permits for parents of children staying overnight or seriously ill, NICU parents, chemotherapy and renal patients, end-of-life and bereavement visitors, dementia carers and Pregnancy Pal / Birth Buddy; weekly concession tickets also available. Renal and chemotherapy patients use the dedicated car park off Carlingford Drive.
Where is Southend University Hospital?
Southend University Hospital is at Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, SS0 0RY. It is run by Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust. By bus: Buses run frequently throughout the day (no route numbers listed).
Does Southend University Hospital have an A&E?
Yes. Southend University Hospital has an emergency department. Across Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, 70.2% of 35,276 A&E attendances ended within 4 hours in August 2026.
Sources: NHS England statistics on referral to treatment (RTT) waiting times (July 2026), A&E attendances (August 2026), diagnostic waiting times (DM01) and cancer waiting times, published 10 September 2026; hospital sites from the nhs.uk organisation data. Figures are checked against the official national totals before every update.
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