Visiting the Emergency Department

• If you feel your situation requires urgent care or is life threatening, go to your local emergency department. You can also call 9-1-1.
• If you have a health concern that you feel requires same-day care, but do not believe your situation requires urgent care or is life threatening, take the following steps:
  1. Call your family doctor or nurse practitioner. Same-day appointments may be available.
  2. If your family doctor or nurse practitioner is not available, visit a local walk-in clinic if available
  3. If you do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, can not access a walk-in clinic, or are unable to get an appointment with your regular primary care provider that day, visit an Urgent and Primary Care Centre if one is available in your community
  4. Curious about other options? View our Use your emergency department wisely poster.

• For trusted health advice, call 8-1-1. Healthlink BC is available 24/7
• If you need an urgent medication refills, contact your pharmacist
• To access help lines, visit the appropriate section on our Contact Information page:
  • Emergency & crisis contact information
  • Mental health and substance use contact information
  • Seniors contact information

No two emergency department visits are the same. We care for the sickest the quickest, so you may wait longer than someone else, and you may have to wait at any point during your visit. Many children and adults may not need a test. Whatever your needs, we’re here to help. 

Check out the steps listed below for an idea of what your visit to the emergency department will look like.

View our emergency visit infographic