Emergency Wait Time Alert for Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

Our Emergency Department (ED) continues to experience high volumes of patients. As patients are seen based on an assessment of individual illness this will likely mean longer than normal wait times for those that have less severe emergencies. Calling an ambulance will not necessarily get you faster attention once you are at the hospital. If possible, please first seek the help of a primary care provider or access other community options before deciding to visit the ED. If you are unsure whether you have an emergency, you can seek health-related advice from a Registered Nurse by calling Health Connect Ontario (former Telehealth Ontario), 24/7. Call 811 or visit https://healthconnectontario.health.gov.on.ca/static/guest/home

Patients with less severe conditions will experience longer wait times due to increased patient volumes and limited inpatient beds. Today, our current medical/surgical hospital occupancy is at 107.3% and our ICU occupancy is at 90.9%. We are asking for everyone’s patience as our teams prioritize the needs of each patient. Please be mindful of extended wait times and be courteous to staff if you are using the ED. We appreciate the community support as we work through this busy time.