St. Paul's Hospital Emergency Wait Time

Also known as Saint Paul's HospitalVancouver, British Columbia

The historic brick buildings of St. Paul's Hospital on Burrard Street in downtown Vancouver
Open 24 hoursERTreats: All ages
Photo: Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0

Live St. Paul's Hospital ER wait right now

9 in 10 patients seen within

2 hours 15 minutes

Long wait

Was 2 hr 30 min at

4 hr 45 min

Estimated length of stay, for 3 in 4 patients who go home

Life-threatening emergency? Call 911, don't wait.

Wait time key

  • Shorter wait: Under 2 hr
  • Long wait: 2 to 4 hr
  • Very long wait: 4 hr or more

Source

edwaittimes.ca

We check it every 5 minutes and show its own label for the number. How this page works

What does this number mean?

9 in 10 patients are seen within this time; about 1 in 10 wait longer. It is not the total time at the hospital, and sicker patients are seen first. How edwaittimes.ca defines it

The colours are set by us, not by edwaittimes.ca. Under 2 hours is the Canadian goal for even the least urgent patients. cihi.ca

How we measure and colour waits

Hospital details

Address
1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6
Phone
604-682-2344Main switchboard. For an emergency, call 911.
Hours
Every dayOpen 24 hours
Who it treats
  • Emergency department treats all ages
View more details
Operated by
Providence Health CarePart of Vancouver Coastal Health
Parking
  • Underground lot and a small open-air lot off Thurlow and Comox streets, often full.
  • Drop-off and pick-up at the Comox and Thurlow entrances and on Burrard Street.
  • Accessible spaces by each bank of elevators in the underground lot.

Parking information

Departments and services

101 departments, clinics and services

View all departments
Official information

Wait times in the last 24 hours

Average published estimate for each hour, in local time (PDT). Gaps are hours with no reading.
Show as a table
Average estimated wait by hour, last 24 hours
HourAverage estimatevs hour before
Yesterday, 7 pm – 8 pm1 hr 58 min
Yesterday, 8 pm – 9 pm2 hr 39 min
Yesterday, 9 pm – 10 pm3 hr 8 min
Yesterday, 10 pm – 11 pm3 hr 42 min
Yesterday, 11 pm – midnight3 hr 11 min
Today, midnight – 1 am2 hr 36 min
Today, 1 am – 2 am2 hr 22 min
Today, 2 am – 3 am2 hr 11 min
Today, 3 am – 4 am2 hr 13 min
Today, 4 am – 5 am2 hr 14 min
Today, 5 am – 6 am1 hr 53 min
Today, 6 am – 7 am1 hr 48 min
Today, 7 am – 8 am1 hr 49 min
Today, 8 am – 9 am1 hr 36 min
Today, 9 am – 10 am1 hr 38 min
Today, 10 am – 11 am1 hr 43 min
Today, 11 am – noon1 hr 54 min
Today, noon – 1 pm2 hr 10 min
Today, 1 pm – 2 pm1 hr 59 min
Today, 2 pm – 3 pm2 hr 18 min
Today, 3 pm – 4 pm2 hr 56 min
Today, 4 pm – 5 pm2 hr 21 min
Today, 5 pm – 6 pm1 hr 55 min
Today, 6 pm – 7 pmNo dataNo comparison

About St. Paul's Hospital

St. Paul's Hospital is a hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia. Emergency department: All ages. This service is open 24 hours a day.

St. Paul's Hospital is an acute care, teaching and research hospital at 1081 Burrard Street in downtown Vancouver, operated by Providence Health Care. The Sisters of Providence founded it in 1894, at the request of Bishop Paul Durieu, for whom it is named, and its first patient was admitted that November to a 25-bed cottage. Providence lists heart and lung services, HIV/AIDS, mental health, substance use, kidney care, surgical specialties, digestive health, seniors' care and pregnancy, birthing and newborn care among its programs. Its Heart Centre does open heart surgery and heart transplants, and it has a kidney transplant clinic and hemodialysis. The emergency department site describes St. Paul's as a Level 3 Trauma Centre and a primary referral centre for cardiac and renal patients in all of British Columbia. A new St. Paul's Hospital at 1002 Station Street in the False Creek Flats has finished construction, according to B.C.'s health ministry in September 2026, and is expected to open to patients in early 2027. All of the hospital's services, including the emergency department, are to move together in one day, and the Province has said the Burrard Street hospital keeps operating at its current site until the new one opens. The new hospital will have 548 beds.

The emergency department is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays, and sees patients of all ages, including children. The emergency and main entrances are on Burrard Street, between Comox Street and Davie Street. Emergency services are available to anyone in a mental health crisis. The hospital delivers babies, and its neonatal intensive care unit cares for babies born at 32 weeks or later; babies who need more acute support are stabilized and then transferred to a higher-level NICU. For problems that are not emergencies, the nearest urgent and primary care centre is Vancouver City Centre UPCC, which moved from 1290 Hornby Street to 188 Nelson Street on December 3, 2024. It is open Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm and Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm, and keeps regular hours on statutory holidays.

Sources: providencehealthcare.org, providencehealthcare.org 2, providencehealthcare.org 3, sphemerg.ca, thedailyscan.providencehealthcare.org, providencehealthcare.org 4, providencehealthcare.org 5, thenewstpauls.ca, vancouversun.com, vch.ca, Wikipedia

Who St. Paul's Hospital treats

This ER treats patients of all ages.

In a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

St. Paul's Hospital departments and services

The official Providence facility page lists 101 departments, clinics and services here, grouped below by area of care.

Key services at a glance

  • Trauma care
  • Psychiatric emergency care
  • Intensive care (ICU)
  • Neonatal intensive care (NICU)
  • Labour and delivery
  • CT scan
  • MRI
  • X-ray
  • Ultrasound
  • Lab

All departments by area of care

Emergency, trauma and critical careEmergency Department1
  • Emergency Department
Heart and blood vesselsCardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) · Cardiac Obstetrics Clinic (COB) · Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit (CSICU)12
  • Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU)
  • Cardiac Obstetrics Clinic (COB)
  • Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit (CSICU)
  • Healthy Heart Cardiac Prevention Clinic
  • Healthy Heart Cardiac Rehabilitation Clinic
  • Heart Function Clinic
  • Heritable Aortopathies Clinic
  • Hypertension Clinic
  • Hypertrophic and Heritable Cardiomyopathy (HHC) Clinic
  • Rapid Access Vascular Medicine Clinic
  • Transcatheter Heart Valve Clinic
  • Virani Provincial Adult Congenital Heart Program
Brain, nerves and strokeDementia Caregiver Resilience Clinic · Early Intervention Memory Clinic · Immunotherapy in Neurology (SPIN) Clinic6
  • Dementia Caregiver Resilience Clinic
  • Early Intervention Memory Clinic
  • Immunotherapy in Neurology (SPIN) Clinic
  • Neuropsychology Service
  • Rapid Access Neurology Clinic
  • Rapid Access Stroke Prevention Clinic
Cancer and blood disordersHematology Oncology Clinic1
  • Hematology Oncology Clinic
SurgeryGeneral Surgery Outpatient Clinic · Pre-Admission Clinic2
  • General Surgery Outpatient Clinic
  • Pre-Admission Clinic
Bones, joints and musclesCarpal Tunnel Plus Clinic · Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Clinic · Rapid Access Shoulder Clinic4
  • Carpal Tunnel Plus Clinic
  • Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Clinic
  • Rapid Access Shoulder Clinic
  • Upper Extremity Outpatient Clinic
Lungs, breathing and sleepAdult Cystic Fibrosis Clinic · Asthma Clinic · BC Centralized Complex Airway Clinic11
  • Adult Cystic Fibrosis Clinic
  • Asthma Clinic
  • BC Centralized Complex Airway Clinic
  • Bronchoscopy Suite
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Clinic
  • Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic
  • Pacific Lung Health Centre
  • Pulmonary Function Lab
  • Respiratory Education Centre
  • Scleroderma Lung Clinic
  • Smoking Cessation Clinic
Digestive system and liverAnal Dysplasia Clinic · Anal Manometry Clinic · Colorectal Clinic5
  • Anal Dysplasia Clinic
  • Anal Manometry Clinic
  • Colorectal Clinic
  • Gastrointestinal Clinic
  • Home Parenteral Nutrition Clinic
Kidneys and urologyHemodialysis · Home Dialysis · Kidney Care Clinics3
  • Hemodialysis
  • Home Dialysis
  • Kidney Care Clinics
Transplant and organ donationKidney Transplant Clinics · Post-Heart Transplant Clinic · Pre-Heart Transplant Clinic3
  • Kidney Transplant Clinics
  • Post-Heart Transplant Clinic
  • Pre-Heart Transplant Clinic
Pregnancy, birth and women's healthFetal Monitoring Clinic · Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) · Newborn Clinic8
  • Fetal Monitoring Clinic
  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
  • Newborn Clinic
  • Obstetric Internal Medicine Clinic
  • Obstetrics Complex Care Clinic (OCC)
  • Pregnancy, Birthing and Newborn Unit
  • Reproductive Mental Health Clinic
  • St. Paul's Maternity Care Clinic
Mental health and addictionBrief Intervention Clinic · Electroconvulsive Therapy Program · Lighthouse Substance Use Care Clinic (Virtual)6
  • Brief Intervention Clinic
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy Program
  • Lighthouse Substance Use Care Clinic (Virtual)
  • Psychiatric Assessment and Stabilization Unit
  • Rapid Access Addiction Clinic
  • Vancouver Police Foundation Transitional Care Centre
Eyes, ears, nose, throat and dentalAudio-Vestibular Diagnostic Clinic · BC Adult Cochlear Implant Program · ENT (Otolaryngology) Clinic7
  • Audio-Vestibular Diagnostic Clinic
  • BC Adult Cochlear Implant Program
  • ENT (Otolaryngology) Clinic
  • Facial Nerve Palsy Clinic
  • Ophthalmology (Eye) Clinic
  • St. Paul's Sinus Centre
  • Tinnitus Clinic
Medicine and specialty clinicsAdult Bleeding Disorders Program · Adult Inherited Bleeding & Red Cell Disorders Program · Adult Red Cell Disorders Program24
  • Adult Bleeding Disorders Program
  • Adult Inherited Bleeding & Red Cell Disorders Program
  • Adult Red Cell Disorders Program
  • Aspirin Exacerbated Disease (AERD) Clinic
  • Centralized Pain Program
  • Diabetes Health Centre
  • General Internal Medicine Clinic
  • Hemosiderosis Program
  • Infectious Diseases Clinic
  • Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
  • John Ruedy Clinic
  • Medical Short Stay Unit
  • Older Adult Outpatient Clinics
  • Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy Clinic
  • Pain Clinics
  • Podiatry Clinic
  • Post-COVID Recovery Clinic (Virtual)
  • Primary Immunodeficiency Transition Clinic
  • Rapid Access Allergy & Immunology Clinic
  • Subcutaneous Immune Globulin Clinic
  • Thrombosis Clinic
  • Thyroid Clinic
  • Transitional Pain Clinic
  • Women's Endocrine Health Centre
Diagnostic imaging and lab testsLaboratory · Radiology Clinic2
  • Laboratory
  • Radiology Clinic
Rehabilitation and therapyDietitian Clinic · Physiatry Outpatient Clinic · Physiotherapy Clinic3
  • Dietitian Clinic
  • Physiatry Outpatient Clinic
  • Physiotherapy Clinic
Other clinics and programsCentre for Pelvic Floor · Colposcopy Clinic · Urology Outpatient Clinic3
  • Centre for Pelvic Floor
  • Colposcopy Clinic
  • Urology Outpatient Clinic

Many clinics and programs need a referral. Check the official page or call the switchboard at 604-682-2344 before you go. In an emergency, call 911.

St. Paul's Hospital ER questions

Understanding the wait

What is the St. Paul's Hospital ER wait right now?

At 6:59 pm PDT, the 9 in 10 patients seen within was 2 hours 15 minutes (long wait), according to edwaittimes.ca. It changes as patients arrive, and the most urgent cases are always seen first.

Source: edwaittimes.ca

Is there an ER near St. Paul's Hospital with a shorter wait?

"Nearby ER wait times right now", at the end of this page, lists the nearest tracked sites with their current waits. These are the nearest facilities in our tracked dataset, not necessarily every local care option. A shorter estimate is not a recommendation to travel farther. If it is an emergency, call 911.

Source: edwaittimes.ca

What does the St. Paul's Hospital ER wait time mean?

edwaittimes.ca describes its ED wait as the time from triage assessment to seeing a doctor or nurse practitioner. The displayed estimate is the 90th percentile: about 9 in 10 patients are seen within that time, while about 1 in 10 may wait longer. It is not an average, an appointment time or a guarantee.

Source: edwaittimes.ca: about the estimates

Is the estimated length of stay at St. Paul's Hospital the same as the wait time?

No. Estimated length of stay covers arrival to discharge home for 75% of patients, excluding people admitted to hospital. It includes assessment, tests and treatment. The wait-to-clinician estimate and this total-visit measure describe different parts of care.

Source: edwaittimes.ca: about the estimates

How often does edwaittimes.ca update St. Paul's Hospital's estimate?

The publisher says its online estimates refresh every five minutes. This is separate from our checks of the source and does not mean the number must change at every refresh. The page shows the timestamp available for the latest information.

Source: edwaittimes.ca: about the estimates

Why can the wait at St. Paul's Hospital change?

Demand can change suddenly as patients arrive, particularly after a serious incident. Patients with more urgent needs receive priority, so your own wait can be shorter or longer than the estimate.

Source: edwaittimes.ca: about the estimates

Planning your visit

Is the St. Paul's Hospital ER open 24 hours?

Yes. The emergency department at St. Paul's Hospital is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Source: edwaittimes.ca

Who can go to the St. Paul's Hospital ER?

The emergency department at St. Paul's Hospital sees patients of all ages.

Source: edwaittimes.ca

Where is St. Paul's Hospital, and is there parking?

St. Paul's Hospital is at 1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6. Underground lot and a small open-air lot off Thurlow and Comox streets, often full. Drop-off and pick-up at the Comox and Thurlow entrances and on Burrard Street. Accessible spaces by each bank of elevators in the underground lot.

Source: edwaittimes.ca

Should I go to urgent care instead of St. Paul's Hospital?

Call 911 for anything life-threatening. An emergency department is for serious problems that need a hospital. Urgent care treats problems that are not life-threatening but need care the same day. For minor problems, a family doctor, walk-in clinic or pharmacist may be quicker. If you are not sure where to go, call HealthLink BC at 811 for advice from a nurse.

Source: edwaittimes.ca

Is St. Paul's Hospital a trauma centre?

Yes. St. Paul's Hospital is a Level 3 Trauma Centre and a primary referral centre for cardiac and kidney patients across British Columbia. For a serious injury or chest pain, call 911.

Source: providencehealthcare.org; providencehealthcare.org; providencehealthcare.org; sphemerg.ca; thedailyscan.providencehealthcare.org; providencehealthcare.org; providencehealthcare.org; thenewstpauls.ca; vancouversun.com; vch.ca; en.wikipedia.org

Has the new St. Paul's Hospital emergency department opened?

Not yet. The new St. Paul's Hospital at 1002 Station Street in the False Creek Flats has finished construction and is expected to open to patients in early 2027. Until then the emergency department stays at 1081 Burrard Street, open 24 hours a day. In an emergency, call 911.

Source: providencehealthcare.org; providencehealthcare.org; providencehealthcare.org; sphemerg.ca; thedailyscan.providencehealthcare.org; providencehealthcare.org; providencehealthcare.org; thenewstpauls.ca; vancouversun.com; vch.ca; en.wikipedia.org

Should I choose St. Paul's Hospital using the online wait time?

The figures provide general information, not a recommendation about where to seek care. Travel, recent treatment at a hospital and your health needs also matter. For a serious emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. For advice about non-emergency options, contact HealthLink BC at 811.

Source: edwaittimes.ca: about the estimates

Map and directions

St. Paul's Hospital

1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6

DirectionsOpen in Google Maps

Nearby ER wait times right now

Straight-line distance. A shorter wait is worth a longer drive only if the trip is safe.

Right now the estimate at SPH is 2 hr 15 min, shorter than the 2 hr 45 min median across 4 Vancouver ERs.

Nearest tracked ERs

All Vancouver ER wait timesER wait times near me

ER, urgent care or walk-in clinic?

  • Emergency department

    Serious problems that need a hospital, any time: broken bones, deep cuts, severe pain, or a fever in a baby under 3 months.

  • Urgent care

    Problems that are not life-threatening but need care today: sprains, minor cuts and burns, infections. Hours are often limited.

  • Walk-in clinics

    Minor problems such as colds, sore throats, rashes or prescription refills are often quicker here.

Nearest tracked urgent care: Vancouver City Centre Urgent and Primary Care Centre (950 m)

Not sure where to go?

Call HealthLink BC at 811 to talk to a nurse. About HealthLink BC

Call 811

Call 911

Chest pain or pressure, signs of a stroke, severe bleeding, trouble breathing, a serious injury, or someone who will not wake up.

Call 911
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