In an emergency

Dial 9-1-1 for police, fire or medical emergencies when immediate action is required.

Call 9-1-1 if a person stops breathing, collapses, or has a seizure.

Call a poison expert 24/7 for advice on if you should call 9-1-1 or go to the Emergency Department.

Poison Control (1-800-567-8911) can also provide information on:

• If there’s been a poisoning and the person has NOT stopped breathing, collapsed, or had a seizure (if the victim DOES stop breathing, collapses, or has a seizure, call 911 right away)
• If you’re concerned about a possible poisoning
• To ask a poison prevention question
• To ask for poison prevention materials

Do I need emergency care?

Call 9-1-1 or visit St. Paul’s Hospital or Mount Saint Joseph Hospital (or your nearest hospital emergency department) if you have:

• Discomfort or tightness in the chest
• More than usual shortness of breath
• Abdominal pain
• Prolonged and persistent or sudden onset headache
• An injury that may require stitches or may involve a broken bone 

Or if you are experiencing:

• A major crisis and, as a result, feel helpless, hopeless and have nowhere to turn
• Severe withdrawal from drugs or alcohol

Or any of the following: 

• Confusion
• Agitation
• Unconsciousness
• Severe allergic reaction
• Swelling of the tongue, lips or throat
• Severe pain
• Irregular heartbeat
• Seizure
• Paralysis
• Weakness or loss of sensation
• Severe vomiting
• Dehydration
• Vomiting blood
• Blood or black colour in the stool
• Overdose

Use good judgement in deciding when to use emergency medical services. If you are not certain, call 9-1-1 or go to the Emergency Department.

PHC's Emergency Department locations

Note about ED Wait Times

This is an average wait time and may change based on the number and severity of other patients attending the ED. So please note that this is an estimated time and not a guarantee.

Wait times are updated every 5 minutes on the Emergency Department Wait Times website and due to rapidly changing demands and the need to see the sickest patients first, your own wait time may be more or less than the time displayed on the ED wait times website.

When you arrive at the Emergency Department it is important to note the following:

• Wait times are in constant flux and are influenced by various factors, including the volume and severity of patient cases at any given time.
• Patients are prioritized based on the urgency of their illness or injury, not the time they arrived at the emergency department.
• We ask for your patience and understanding as our teams care for you.

All local Emergency Departments

Find the nearest Emergency Department in the Vancouver Coastal Health Region

Not an emergency or not sure? 

8-1-1 is a free phone service in British Columbia that you can call to get health information and advice. It's run by HealthLink BC, which is a part if the BC Ministry of Health. When you dial 8-1-1, you'll talk to someone who can guide you to find the right health information and services and also help you decide if you need to go to the Emergency Department.


Non-emergency health information for people living in B.C.: 8-1-1

TTY relay to 8-1-1 for people who are deaf or hard of hearing:
7-1-1

Providence Health Care commits to building a better relationship with Indigenous Peoples. One of our Indigenous Wellness Liaisons (IWL) works in the Emergency Department 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Talk to your provider if you would like to be connected with an IWL as part of your care.

In addition, staff in our Emergency Department are undertaking various forms of Indigenous cultural safety education as part of their ongoing professional development.

PHC is also working to create more culturally safe and welcoming physical spaces in the department. For more information, see Indigenous Wellness Services.

Contact

What is a mental health crisis?

• Intense anxiety or depression
• Suicidal thoughts or attempts
• Threatening violence
• Distorted thinking
• Self-harming
   

When to go to the Emergency Department?

Call 9-1-1 if you or someone you love requires immediate medical attention for injuries, or the person is at risk of seriously harming themselves or others.

Crisis Centre of BC

If you’re uncertain about what to do, the Crisis Centre of BC helpline can offer guidance or go to their website. Anywhere in BC call 1-800-SUICIDE: 1-800-784-2433

Go to Crisis Centre of BC website

Other options for mental health issues 

Any person at risk of injuring themselves or others should go to the closest Emergency Department immediately. But if you are having a mental health problem but it’s not a crisis situation, you can use these services:

Call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest Emergency Department if you or a loved one is having a medical emergency linked to substance use. We are judgement-free and offer safe, compassionate care.

Call 9-1-1 if these signs are present:

• Not responding: doesn't move or can’t be woken
• Slow or not breathing: a breath every 5 seconds is normal
• Making sounds: choking, gurgling sounds or snoring
• Blue lips and nails
• Cold or clammy skin
• Tiny pupils

• When you arrive, a triage nurse will assess your condition and an admitting clerk will take your information.
• Please have your BC Services Card ready if you have one.
• The most serious cases are seen immediately, and most emergency patients receive care within 30 minutes.
• Be aware that you may be required to wait longer as patients in the Emergency Department are seen based on the seriousness of their illness or injury and not on time of arrival.
• Less urgent cases are monitored by the triage nurse and treated appropriately if their condition worsens.

Learn more from Your guide to the Emergency Department

Please check ED Wait Times for estimated wait time until you can be seen by a physician.

Note about ED Wait Times:
This is an average wait time and may change based on the number and severity of other patients attending the ED. So please note that this is an estimated time and not a guarantee.