Emergency Rooms and Urgent Care in Vancouver
Vancouver's 24-hour emergency departments, plus the hospital urgent care option on the UBC campus. If you are unsure whether your problem is an emergency, call 8-1-1 — a registered nurse will tell you where to go.
Call 9-1-1 immediately for chest pain, difficulty breathing, stroke symptoms (face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech), severe bleeding, major trauma, a head injury with confusion or loss of consciousness, a severe allergic reaction, suspected overdose, or thoughts of harming yourself. Do not drive yourself.
| Hospital | Address | Phone | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver General Hospital Emergency | 899 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9 | 604-875-4111 | Adult emergency department, open 24 hours, seven days a week. |
| St. Paul's Hospital Emergency | 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6 | 604-682-2344 | Downtown emergency department, open 24 hours. |
| BC Children's Hospital Emergency | 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4 | 604-875-2345 | Paediatric emergency for children and youth, open 24 hours. |
| Mount Saint Joseph Hospital Emergency | 3080 Prince Edward Street, Vancouver, BC V5T 3N4 | 604-874-1141 | Emergency department in East Vancouver, open 24 hours. |
| UBC Hospital Urgent Care Centre | 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5 | 604-822-7011 | Urgent care on the UBC campus for problems that are not life-threatening. |
When a walk-in clinic is the better choice
Vancouver emergency departments regularly run multi-hour waits for low-acuity patients, because triage puts the sickest patients first. If your problem is uncomfortable rather than dangerous — a sore throat, a urinary tract infection, a rash, a prescription that has run out, a minor sprain — you will almost always be seen faster at a walk-in clinic or an urgent and primary care centre, and the care is equally appropriate.
The reverse is also true: an emergency department has imaging, labs, specialists and admission capability that no walk-in clinic has. If a clinic tells you to go to emergency, go.
Free 24-hour advice: 8-1-1
HealthLink BC answers at 8-1-1 from anywhere in British Columbia, free, at any hour. You speak with a registered nurse who assesses your symptoms and tells you whether to go to emergency now, see a clinic today, or manage at home. Pharmacist and dietitian lines are available during set hours, and interpretation is offered in more than 130 languages. For deaf and hard-of-hearing callers, dial 7-1-1.
Emergency room questions
Which emergency room in Vancouver has the shortest wait?
Emergency departments triage by severity, not arrival order, so a "short wait" depends on what you present with rather than which hospital you choose. For a genuine emergency, go to the nearest department. For a non-urgent problem, a walk-in clinic or UPCC will almost always be faster than any Vancouver emergency room.
Do I need MSP to be seen at a Vancouver emergency room?
No. Emergency departments treat everyone regardless of coverage. Without MSP you will be billed afterwards, and hospital emergency care in BC is expensive for uninsured patients — often well over a thousand dollars. Travel insurance covers this for visitors.
Where do I take a sick child in Vancouver?
BC Children's Hospital at 4480 Oak Street has a dedicated paediatric emergency department, open 24 hours. For non-emergencies, a walk-in clinic or UPCC is appropriate for children, and 8-1-1 has a nursing line that handles paediatric calls.