Emergency Department

If you think you or a loved one is experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 right away.

Our Emergency Department is safe and we are here to serve you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some important notes:

Emergency Department staff cannot give medical advice over the phone.
We do not give prescription refills for narcotics in our Emergency Department.
Need advice about where best to go to treat your symptoms? Call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 and a nurse will assess and advise you.

Frequently Asked Questions about visiting the Emergency Department:

If you live outside of Ontario, please bring your medical insurance information.

Your prescription and non-prescription medications (including any herbal or vitamin supplements) in their original containers. If you do not have the original containers, please bring an updated list of all the medications you have been prescribed.
A supply of your medications in case you have a long wait or need to be admitted to hospital.
Any other important information about allergies or other medical conditions you may have.
Your extended/private health insurance information in case you need to be admitted to hospital.

When you arrive, you will be triaged by a Registered Nurse using the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS). The triage scale is a specified process where patients are prioritized according to their acuity and urgency level.
Patients are not seen on a “first come, first serve basis”. The sickest patients will be seen first. So, a patient who arrives after you (including those arriving by ambulance) may be seen before you if their illness or injury is more serious than yours, in accordance with the CTAS.
If your condition changes at any time while waiting, please speak with a nurse or other team member, immediately.

This video from Dr. Mike Evans explains wait times in the Emergency Department.

Please ensure you understand your diagnosis, and any follow up instructions the Emergency Department physician gives you. Our staff can provide written instructions if you need them.
If our physician has referred you to a specialist, ensure you have the specialist’s office information so that you can contact them if you don’t receive notification of your appointment date and time.
Prior to your departure, we may ask you to complete a short, confidential survey about your experience in our Emergency Department. This information helps us to know how well we are doing and what we can do to improve.

Our physician may prescribe equipment for you that is not covered by OHIP (crutches, knee or shoulder immobilizers). You will be billed for these items, but your health insurance may reimburse you as well.
Many ambulance trips have a $45.00 co-payment that you are responsible for paying. More information on ambulance charges can be found on the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care website.