Right Place. Best Care.

Know what your options are so that you can get the best care in the right place from the right health care provider when you need it.

All too often people find themselves using an Emergency Department (ED) for injuries or illnesses that could be treated by other health care professionals in the community. Sometimes this happens simply because people don't know where else to go.

The Hamilton health care system offers a wide range of service options to help support your health care needs including Urgent and Emergency care services, Family Health Teams, Telehealth and Community Care Access Centres (CCAC).

Emergency & Urgent Care Services 

Please note: Effective April 2011.
The McMaster University Medical Centre Emergency Department is changing.
No adults. Kids only.

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS

In a life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1. You will be taken by ambulance to the most appropriate Emergency Department based on your need. If you are uncertain, always call 9-1-1.

There are four hospital Emergency Departments in Hamilton open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They:

• Receive ambulances and walk-in patients of all ages.
• Are staffed by physicians and nurses trained in emergency medicine.
• Treat emergency and life-threatening illness or injury
• Experience high volumes of patients who are treated in order of urgency, not by arrival time. Please be patient.

There is one children's-only Emergency Department in Hamilton open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The children's-only ED: 

• Receives ambulances and walk-in patients who are under 18 only.
• Is staffed by a team of physicians, nurses and specialists trained in emergency medicine who recognize and treat the unique medical needs of children.
• Treats patients in order of urgency, not by arrival time. Please be patient
• Treats emergency, life-threatening and non life-threatening illness or injury of children only. 

Adults 18 and over will continue to be treated at any of the other three Emergency Departments in Hamilton

Urgent Care Centres

There are two Urgent Care Centres in Hamilton, located in the west and east end,  that are open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a weeks.

• Receive walk-in patients.
• Do not receive ambulances and do not admit patients.
• Are staffed by physicians and nurses trained in emergency medicine.
• Treat non life-threatening illness or injury
• Treat patients in order of urgency, not by arrival time. Please be patient.
• Are equipped to perform diagnostic tests such as X-rays, ultrasounds and blood tests.