Vancouver General Hospital Emergency Wait Time

Also known as Vancouver City Hospital, City HospitalVancouver, British Columbia

The Centennial Pavilion tower, now the Leon Judah Blackmore Pavilion, at Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver
Open 24 hoursERTreats: Ages 17+
Photo: Mike from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0

Live Vancouver General Hospital ER wait right now

9 in 10 patients seen within

5 hours 0 minutes

Very long wait

Was 4 hr 45 min at

14 hr 0 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
920 West 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9
Phone
604-875-4111Main switchboard. For an emergency, call 911.
Hours
Every dayOpen 24 hours
Who it treats
  • Emergency department treats ages 17+ only
View more details
Operated by
Vancouver Coastal Health
Parking
  • 12th Avenue Parkade (enter from Laurel Street, staffed 24/7): $3 per 30 minutes, up to $18.75 for 24 hours.
  • A second parkade is at the Diamond Health Care Centre, 12th Avenue and Oak Street.
  • Questions: 604-875-4832.

Parking information

Departments and services

98 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, 5 pm – 6 pm3 hr 56 min
Yesterday, 6 pm – 7 pm3 hr 49 min
Yesterday, 7 pm – 8 pm5 hr 10 min
Yesterday, 8 pm – 9 pm6 hr 1 min
Yesterday, 9 pm – 10 pm6 hr 11 min
Yesterday, 10 pm – 11 pm6 hr 48 min
Yesterday, 11 pm – midnight8 hr 13 min
Today, midnight – 1 am8 hr 42 min
Today, 1 am – 2 am8 hr 16 min
Today, 2 am – 3 am7 hr 45 min
Today, 3 am – 4 am7 hr 46 minNo change
Today, 4 am – 5 am7 hr 7 min
Today, 5 am – 6 am6 hr 35 min
Today, 6 am – 7 am5 hr 40 min
Today, 7 am – 8 am5 hr 42 min
Today, 8 am – 9 am5 hr 33 min
Today, 9 am – 10 am5 hr 29 min
Today, 10 am – 11 am5 hr 29 minNo change
Today, 11 am – noon4 hr 56 min
Today, noon – 1 pm4 hr 40 min
Today, 1 pm – 2 pm4 hr 50 min
Today, 2 pm – 3 pm4 hr 43 min
Today, 3 pm – 4 pm4 hr 24 min
Today, 4 pm – 5 pm5 hr 0 min

About Vancouver General Hospital

Vancouver General Hospital is a hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia. Emergency department: Ages 17+. This service is open 24 hours a day.

Vancouver General Hospital, known locally as VGH or Vancouver General, is Vancouver Coastal Health's hospital at 899 West 12th Avenue in Vancouver. It began in 1886 as a nine-bed Canadian Pacific Railway tent hospital and has been on its Fairview site since 1906, when the Heather Pavilion opened. Besides care for Vancouver residents, it runs provincial programs for patients from across British Columbia: Vancouver Coastal Health calls it the province's Level 1 adult trauma centre and its quaternary referral centre for trauma. It is also home to the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Association Burn Unit, the Vancouver Stroke Program, spinal cord injury and neurosurgery services, and transplant programs for kidney, liver, pancreas and lung.

The emergency department is on the ground floor of the Jim Pattison Pavilion (North), with its entrance at the corner of Laurel Street and West 10th Avenue (920 West 10th Avenue). It is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and sees patients 17 and older. Children and youth up to 16 go to the emergency department at BC Children's Hospital on Oak Street, and births are at BC Women's Hospital, not VGH. For problems that are not emergencies, Vancouver Coastal Health asks people to consider an urgent and primary care centre, such as Vancouver City Centre UPCC at 188 Nelson Street. In July 2026 Vancouver City Council approved an interim zoning change that allows a new 11-storey building with emergency and inpatient care on the campus; the current emergency department stays open.

Sources: vch.ca, vch.ca 2, vch.ca 3, vch.ca 4, vancouverstrokeprogram.com, vch.ca 5, vch.ca 6, vch.ca (PDF), Wikipedia, shapeyourcity.ca

Who Vancouver General Hospital treats

This ER treats patients aged 17 and older.

Under 17? The nearest tracked children's ER is BC Children's Hospital, 1.9 km away.

In a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Vancouver General Hospital departments and services

The official VCH facility page lists 98 departments, clinics and services here, grouped below by area of care.

Key services at a glance

  • Trauma care
  • Stroke care
  • Burn care
  • Psychiatric emergency care
  • Intensive care (ICU)
  • CT scan
  • MRI
  • X-ray
  • Ultrasound
  • Lab

All departments by area of care

Emergency, trauma and critical careEmergency Department · Sexual Assault Service · Trauma Services3
  • Emergency Department
  • Sexual Assault Service
  • Trauma Services
Heart and blood vesselsCardiac Atrial Fibrillation Clinic · Cardiac Cath Lab (Cardiac Interventional Procedure Unit) · Cardiac Function Clinic7
  • Cardiac Atrial Fibrillation Clinic
  • Cardiac Cath Lab (Cardiac Interventional Procedure Unit)
  • Cardiac Function Clinic
  • Pacemaker Follow-Up Clinics
  • VGH Cardiodiagnostic Centre
  • VGH Centre for Cardiovascular Health
  • VGH Thoracic Aortic Disease Program Clinic
Brain, nerves and strokeDeep Brain Stimulation Clinic · Epilepsy Program · Hydrocephalus Clinic10
  • Deep Brain Stimulation Clinic
  • Epilepsy Program
  • Hydrocephalus Clinic
  • Neurocritical Care
  • Neurosurgery
  • Rapid Access Neurology
  • Seizure Intervention Unit
  • Stroke Prevention Clinic (TIA Rapid Access Clinic)
  • Vancouver Stroke Program
  • Women's Stroke Clinic
Cancer and blood disordersProstate Cancer Supportive Care Program · Prostate Clinic2
  • Prostate Cancer Supportive Care Program
  • Prostate Clinic
SurgeryBC Professional Fire Fighters' Association Burn Unit · Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) · Gender Surgery Program B.C.6
  • BC Professional Fire Fighters' Association Burn Unit
  • Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS)
  • Gender Surgery Program B.C.
  • Hand Injury, Burns and Plastics Surgery Outpatient Clinics
  • Minor Surgery Clinic
  • Vancouver General Hospital Trauma Clinic
Bones, joints and musclesBone Densitometry · Brenda and David Mclean Integrated Spine Clinic · Mary Pack Arthritis Centre6
  • Bone Densitometry
  • Brenda and David Mclean Integrated Spine Clinic
  • Mary Pack Arthritis Centre
  • Orthopedics Trauma Clinic
  • Rapid Access Spine Triage Program
  • Spinal Cord Injury Outpatient Program
Lungs, breathing and sleepAsthma and COPD Education Program · Bronchoscopy · COPD Clinics7
  • Asthma and COPD Education Program
  • Bronchoscopy
  • COPD Clinics
  • Nontuberculous Mycobacterial (NTM) Disease Clinic
  • Pulmonary Function Testing
  • Pulmonary Outpatient Clinics
  • Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program
Digestive system and liverEndoscopy Clinic · Gastroenterology2
  • Endoscopy Clinic
  • Gastroenterology
Kidneys and urologyDialysis Access Clinics · Independent Dialysis Centre · Kidney Clinics3
  • Dialysis Access Clinics
  • Independent Dialysis Centre
  • Kidney Clinics
Transplant and organ donationBC Leukemia Bone Marrow Transplant Program · Living Donor Programs · Solid Organ Transplant Pharmacy5
  • BC Leukemia Bone Marrow Transplant Program
  • Living Donor Programs
  • Solid Organ Transplant Pharmacy
  • Transplant Post-Assessment Clinic
  • Transplant Pre-Assessment Clinics
Mental health and addictionAccess and Assessment Centre (AAC) · Adult Tertiary Mental Health Assessment and Treatment · Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)7
  • Access and Assessment Centre (AAC)
  • Adult Tertiary Mental Health Assessment and Treatment
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
  • Mental Health and Substance Use Outpatient Services
  • Psychiatric Assessment Unit
  • Psychiatric Inpatient Services
  • Regional ADHD Clinic
Eyes, ears, nose, throat and dentalEar, Nose and Throat Clinics · Eye Care Centre · Neuro-Otology Clinic4
  • Ear, Nose and Throat Clinics
  • Eye Care Centre
  • Neuro-Otology Clinic
  • Provincial Voice Care Resource Program
Medicine and specialty clinicsAdult Metabolic Disease Clinic · Complex Wound Clinics · Geriatric Medicine10
  • Adult Metabolic Disease Clinic
  • Complex Wound Clinics
  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Hyperbaric Chamber
  • Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine Clinic
  • Intensive Care Unit
  • Internal Medicine Rapid Access Clinics
  • Medical Daycare Infusion Clinic
  • Palliative Care Unit
  • VGH Diabetes Centre
Diagnostic imaging and lab testsCardiac MRI · Computed Tomography (CT) · Echocardiography10
  • Cardiac MRI
  • Computed Tomography (CT)
  • Echocardiography
  • Electromyography (EMG) Lab
  • Interventional Radiography
  • Laboratory Services
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Ultrasound
  • X-Ray
Rehabilitation and therapyFall Prevention Services · Physiotherapy Elder Care Outpatient Clinic · Sexual Health Rehabilitation Service4
  • Fall Prevention Services
  • Physiotherapy Elder Care Outpatient Clinic
  • Sexual Health Rehabilitation Service
  • Speech and Language Services
Community, home care and public healthHospital at Home · Vancouver Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Teams2
  • Hospital at Home
  • Vancouver Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Teams
Patient and family supportCIBC Centre for Patients & Families · Indigenous Patient Navigators · Spiritual Health3
  • CIBC Centre for Patients & Families
  • Indigenous Patient Navigators
  • Spiritual Health
Food, shops and visitor servicesRetail Food Services · Sacred Spaces and Gathering Places2
  • Retail Food Services
  • Sacred Spaces and Gathering Places
Other clinics and programsBC Centre for Sexual Medicine · Dermatology Clinics · Gynecology Clinics5
  • BC Centre for Sexual Medicine
  • Dermatology Clinics
  • Gynecology Clinics
  • Urology Outpatient Clinics
  • VGH Dental Clinic

Many clinics and programs need a referral. Check the official page or call the switchboard at 604-875-4111 before you go. In an emergency, call 911.

Vancouver General Hospital ER questions

Understanding the wait

What is the Vancouver General Hospital ER wait right now?

At 5:24 pm PDT, the 9 in 10 patients seen within was 5 hours 0 minutes (very 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 Vancouver General 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 Vancouver General 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 Vancouver General 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 Vancouver General 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 Vancouver General 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 Vancouver General Hospital ER open 24 hours?

Yes. The emergency department at Vancouver General Hospital is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Source: edwaittimes.ca

Who can go to the Vancouver General Hospital ER?

The emergency department at Vancouver General Hospital sees patients aged 17 and older. For younger children, the nearest tracked children's ER is BC Children's Hospital.

Source: edwaittimes.ca

Where is Vancouver General Hospital, and is there parking?

Vancouver General Hospital is at 920 West 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9. 12th Avenue Parkade (enter from Laurel Street, staffed 24/7): $3 per 30 minutes, up to $18.75 for 24 hours. A second parkade is at the Diamond Health Care Centre, 12th Avenue and Oak Street. Questions: 604-875-4832.

Source: edwaittimes.ca

Should I go to urgent care instead of Vancouver General 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 VGH British Columbia's Level 1 adult trauma centre?

Yes. Vancouver General Hospital is the Level 1 Adult Trauma Centre for British Columbia. It also has the provincial burn unit for adults and stroke neurologists available 24 hours a day. For a serious injury, a burn or signs of a stroke, call 911: paramedics take you to the hospital that can treat you.

Source: vch.ca; vch.ca; vch.ca; vch.ca; vancouverstrokeprogram.com; vch.ca; vch.ca; vch.ca; en.wikipedia.org; shapeyourcity.ca

Should I choose Vancouver General 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

Vancouver General Hospital

920 West 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9

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 VGH is 5 hr 0 min, longer 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 (1.6 km)

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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