Women wait longest in Swedish emergency rooms

Women face longer waits than men in Swedish emergency departments, according to new figures from the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) reported by SVT.

Emergency room visits in Sweden rose by 3% last year, with the average patient stay reaching 4 hours and 16 minutes. Regional disparities were significant: Region Skåne recorded the longest average stays at nearly five hours, while Region Jönköping had the shortest at just over three hours.

The data also shows that women of all ages consistently wait longer than men, a pattern that repeats yearly. Bruno Ziegler, a medical expert at the National Board of Health and Welfare, said the cause remains unclear and warrants further investigation, including research.