Average wait to see a doctor (last 6 hours)
1 hour 58 minutes
Shorter wait
Was 1 hr 50 min at
McMaster Children's Hospital Emergency Wait Times
Also known as McMaster Hospital, McMaster University Medical CentreHamilton, Ontario
Open 24 hoursERChildrenTreats: Under 18
Live McMaster Children's Hospital ER wait right now
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
We check it every 5 minutes and show its own label for the number. How this page works
What does this number mean?
An average of recorded waits over the provider's reporting period, not a prediction for someone arriving now. It is not the total time at the hospital. Sicker patients are seen first. How Hamilton Emergency Wait Times defines it
The colours are set by us, not by Hamilton Emergency Wait Times. Under 2 hours is the Canadian goal for even the least urgent patients. cihi.ca
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Hospital details
- Address
- 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5
- Phone
- 905-521-2100Main switchboard. For an emergency, call 911.
- Hours
Every day Open 24 hours - Who it treats
- Children's emergency department treats children & teens (17 and under) only
- Operated by
- Hamilton Health Sciences
- Parking
- Underground garage (entrances off Main St. W. or King St.): $4.50 per 30 minutes, $24 daily maximum.
- Emergency short-term lot, across from the main entrance: $5 per 30 minutes, $29 daily maximum.
- The first 15 minutes are free in both.
- Pay at the pay stations or exit gates (cards and debit; cash at the Yellow garage elevator lobby). Passes for the underground garage are sold at the parking office, 905-521-2100 ext. 76156.
- Departments and services
71 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 (EDT). Gaps are hours with no reading.
Show as a table
| Hour | Average estimate | vs hour before |
|---|---|---|
| Yesterday, 9 pm – 10 pm | 1 hr 49 min | |
| Yesterday, 10 pm – 11 pm | 1 hr 52 min | |
| Yesterday, 11 pm – midnight | 1 hr 55 min | |
| Today, midnight – 1 am | 1 hr 57 min | |
| Today, 1 am – 2 am | 2 hr 3 min | |
| Today, 2 am – 3 am | 2 hr 7 min | |
| Today, 3 am – 4 am | 2 hr 12 min | |
| Today, 4 am – 5 am | 3 hr 16 min | |
| Today, 5 am – 6 am | 3 hr 29 min | |
| Today, 6 am – 7 am | 3 hr 28 min | No change |
| Today, 7 am – 8 am | 3 hr 15 min | |
| Today, 8 am – 9 am | 2 hr 53 min | |
| Today, 9 am – 10 am | 2 hr 25 min | |
| Today, 10 am – 11 am | 1 hr 51 min | |
| Today, 11 am – noon | 1 hr 16 min | |
| Today, noon – 1 pm | 43 min | |
| Today, 1 pm – 2 pm | 39 min | |
| Today, 2 pm – 3 pm | 42 min | |
| Today, 3 pm – 4 pm | 48 min | |
| Today, 4 pm – 5 pm | 58 min | |
| Today, 5 pm – 6 pm | 1 hr 7 min | |
| Today, 6 pm – 7 pm | 1 hr 28 min | |
| Today, 7 pm – 8 pm | 1 hr 38 min | |
| Today, 8 pm – 9 pm | 1 hr 44 min |
About McMaster Children's Hospital
McMaster Children's Hospital is a hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. Children's emergency department: Children & teens (17 and under). This service is open 24 hours a day.
McMaster Children's Hospital (MCH) is Hamilton Health Sciences' children's hospital, in the McMaster University Medical Centre building at 1200 Main Street West. HHS's history dates McMaster University Medical Centre to 1972; its pediatric services were designated the Children's Hospital in 1988, were included in the 1996 merger that created HHS, and were renamed McMaster Children's Hospital in 2002. Critical Care Services Ontario lists MCH as the lead trauma hospital for the Central South regional trauma network, and HHS says it provides pediatric trauma care as a tertiary trauma centre. It has a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for ages 0 through 17, a 72-bed tertiary neonatal intensive care unit that HHS calls one of the largest in Canada, and child and youth mental health inpatient and assessment units.
The children's emergency department is kids-only and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for infants, children and youth age 17 and under. HHS says its emergency departments receive ambulances and walk-in patients. It is in the Yellow section on the main floor (Level 2): from the street, use the Emergency Department entrance next to the main entrance; from underground parking, take the yellow elevators. McMaster University Medical Centre's labour and delivery program is in the same building but is not part of MCH. Adults go to Hamilton General, Juravinski or St. Joseph's Charlton Campus.
The wait shown here is the one Hamilton's hospitals publish on hamiltonemergencywaittimes.ca: the length of time between arriving at the front desk to check in and seeing a doctor, averaged over the last six hours and updated automatically every 15 minutes. The sickest children are seen first, not in the order they arrive. For problems that are not emergencies, HHS's West End Urgent Care Centre at 690 Main Street West treats children and adults, with no appointment, 10 am to 9 pm every day, and St. Joseph's King Campus Urgent Care at 2757 King Street East is open 8 am to 10 pm every day; ambulances are not accepted at King Campus. You can also call Health811 at 811 for free medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.
Sources: hamiltonhealthsciences.ca, hamiltonhealthsciences.ca 2, hamiltonhealthsciences.ca 3, hamiltonhealthsciences.ca 4, criticalcareontario.ca, hamiltonhealthsciences.ca 5, hamiltonhealthsciences.ca 6, hamiltonhealthsciences.ca 7, hamiltonemergencywaittimes.ca, Wikipedia
Who McMaster Children's Hospital treats
This children's ER treats children and teens aged 17 and under.
18 or older? The nearest tracked ER for adults is St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Charlton Campus, 3.9 km away.
In a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
McMaster Children's Hospital departments and services
The official HHS facility page lists 71 departments, clinics and services here, grouped below by area of care.
Key services at a glance
- Trauma care
- Psychiatric emergency care
- Children's emergency care
- Intensive care (ICU)
- Neonatal intensive care (NICU)
- CT scan
- MRI
- X-ray
- Ultrasound
- Lab
All departments by area of care
Emergency, trauma and critical careChildren's Emergency Department · Pediatric Intensive Care Unit · Pediatric Outpatient Burn Program3
- Children's Emergency Department
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
- Pediatric Outpatient Burn Program
Heart and blood vesselsPediatric Cardiology Clinic · Pediatric Lipid Clinic2
- Pediatric Cardiology Clinic
- Pediatric Lipid Clinic
Brain, nerves and strokeBrachial Plexus Clinic · Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (7 South) · Neurology Clinic6
- Brachial Plexus Clinic
- Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (7 South)
- Neurology Clinic
- Neuromuscular & Neurometabolic Clinic
- Neurosurgery Clinic
- Pediatric Epilepsy Clinic
Cancer and blood disordersNeuro-Oncology Off Therapy & AfterCare Clinics · Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Inpatient Unit · Pediatric Hematology Clinic5
- Neuro-Oncology Off Therapy & AfterCare Clinics
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Inpatient Unit
- Pediatric Hematology Clinic
- Pediatric Outpatient Oncology Clinic
- Thrombophilia Clinic
SurgeryChest Wall Anomalies Surgery Clinic · General Pediatric Surgery Clinic2
- Chest Wall Anomalies Surgery Clinic
- General Pediatric Surgery Clinic
Bones, joints and musclesPediatric Fracture Clinic · Pediatric Orthopedic and Fracture Clinic · Pediatric Orthopedics Clinic4
- Pediatric Fracture Clinic
- Pediatric Orthopedic and Fracture Clinic
- Pediatric Orthopedics Clinic
- Rheumatology Clinic
Lungs, breathing and sleepAllergy & Asthma Clinic · Cystic Fibrosis Clinic · Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Clinic4
- Allergy & Asthma Clinic
- Cystic Fibrosis Clinic
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Clinic
- Respirology Clinic
Digestive system and liverGastroenterology and Nutrition Clinic1
- Gastroenterology and Nutrition Clinic
Kidneys and urologyHemodialysis Unit · Nephrology Clinic · Urology Clinic3
- Hemodialysis Unit
- Nephrology Clinic
- Urology Clinic
Children and youthAutism Program · Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Hub – West Region · Child Advocacy and Assessment Program4
- Autism Program
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Hub – West Region
- Child Advocacy and Assessment Program
- Neonatal Follow-Up Clinic
Mental health and addictionChild and Youth Mental Health Assessment Unit · Child and Youth Mental Health Inpatient Unit · Child and Youth Mental Health Outpatient Clinic9
- Child and Youth Mental Health Assessment Unit
- Child and Youth Mental Health Inpatient Unit
- Child and Youth Mental Health Outpatient Clinic
- Eating Disorder Program
- Mental Health Consultation Services
- Neuropsychology Services
- Pediatric Eating Disorders Day Treatment
- Pediatric Eating Disorders Inpatient Unit
- Pediatric Eating Disorders Outpatient Clinic
Eyes, ears, nose, throat and dentalCleft Lip and Palate Program (CLP) · Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Clinic · Ophthalmology Clinic3
- Cleft Lip and Palate Program (CLP)
- Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Clinic
- Ophthalmology Clinic
Medicine and specialty clinicsAdolescent Medicine Clinic · Consulting Pediatric Medicine · Endocrine Clinic13
- Adolescent Medicine Clinic
- Consulting Pediatric Medicine
- Endocrine Clinic
- Genetics and Metabolics Program
- Genetics Clinic
- Pediatric Chronic Pain
- Pediatric Chronic Pain and Mind Body Medicine Program
- Pediatric Complex Care Unit
- Pediatric Diabetes Program
- Pediatric Immunology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Pediatric Medical Day Care (3D)
- Pediatric Medicine Unit
Diagnostic imaging and lab testsDiagnostic Services · Medical Diagnostic Units · Nuclear Medicine3
- Diagnostic Services
- Medical Diagnostic Units
- Nuclear Medicine
Rehabilitation and therapyChildren's Exercise and Nutrition Centre · Feeding and Swallowing Clinic2
- Children's Exercise and Nutrition Centre
- Feeding and Swallowing Clinic
Patient and family supportSexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centre1
- Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centre
Other clinics and programsAfterCare Clinic · Extensive Needs Service · Quality of Life and Advanced Care Program6
- AfterCare Clinic
- Extensive Needs Service
- Quality of Life and Advanced Care Program
- Sedation Clinic
- Thrive Beyond (Off Therapy Clinic)
- Voice Clinic
Many clinics and programs need a referral. Check the official page or call the switchboard at 905-521-2100 before you go. In an emergency, call 911.
McMaster Children's Hospital ER questions
Understanding the wait
What is the McMaster Children's Hospital ER wait right now?
At 9:15 pm EDT, the average wait to see a doctor (last 6 hours) was 1 hour 58 minutes (shorter wait), according to Hamilton Emergency Wait Times. It changes as patients arrive, and the most urgent cases are always seen first.
Source: Hamilton Emergency Wait Times
Is there an ER near McMaster Children's Hospital with a shorter wait?
"Nearby children's 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: Hamilton Emergency Wait Times
How is the McMaster Children's Hospital wait time calculated?
The wait time posted refers to the length of time between when you arrive to the front desk to check in and when you see a doctor. The wait time is calculated by averaging the time that each patient has waited over the last six hours. Your experience can differ as the number and urgency of patients change.
Source: Hamilton Emergency Wait Times
How often are McMaster Children's Hospital's wait times updated?
Hamilton's hospitals say their computer systems update the published wait times automatically every 15 minutes. Our site checks the feed separately; checking more often does not make the hospital's estimate newer.
Source: Hamilton Emergency Wait Times
Are patients at McMaster Children's Hospital seen in arrival order?
No. Staff assess urgency using the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS). Critical patients receive priority whether they arrive by ambulance or on their own. The posted wait is an estimate rather than a reserved place in line.
Source: Hamilton Emergency Wait Times
Planning your visit
Is the McMaster Children's Hospital ER open 24 hours?
Yes. The emergency department at McMaster Children's Hospital is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Source: Hamilton Emergency Wait Times
Can adults go to McMaster Children's Hospital?
The emergency department at McMaster Children's Hospital is for children and teens aged 17 and under. Adults should go to an adult or all-ages ER. The nearest tracked adult ER is St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Charlton Campus. In a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Source: Hamilton Emergency Wait Times
Where is McMaster Children's Hospital, and is there parking?
McMaster Children's Hospital is at 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5. Underground garage (entrances off Main St. W. or King St.): $4.50 per 30 minutes, $24 daily maximum. Emergency short-term lot, across from the main entrance: $5 per 30 minutes, $29 daily maximum. The first 15 minutes are free in both. Pay at the pay stations or exit gates (cards and debit; cash at the Yellow garage elevator lobby). Passes for the underground garage are sold at the parking office, 905-521-2100 ext. 76156.
Source: Hamilton Emergency Wait Times
Should I go to urgent care instead of McMaster Children'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 Health811 at 811 for advice from a nurse.
Source: Hamilton Emergency Wait Times
Can children go to other Hamilton ERs instead of McMaster Children's Hospital?
Hamilton's wait-time site says all of its emergency departments and urgent care centres can care for children, but the kids-only emergency department at McMaster Children's Hospital provides the most advanced care for infants, children and youth under 18. It is open 24 hours a day at 1200 Main Street West. If you think an infant or child is in a medical emergency, call 911.
Source: hamiltonhealthsciences.ca; hamiltonhealthsciences.ca; hamiltonhealthsciences.ca; hamiltonhealthsciences.ca; criticalcareontario.ca; hamiltonhealthsciences.ca; hamiltonhealthsciences.ca; hamiltonhealthsciences.ca; hamiltonemergencywaittimes.ca; en.wikipedia.org
Where is the McMaster Children's Hospital emergency entrance?
In the Yellow section on the main floor (Level 2). From the street, use the Emergency Department entrance next to the main entrance at 1200 Main Street West; from underground parking, take the yellow elevators. If a child is in a medical emergency, call 911.
Source: hamiltonhealthsciences.ca; hamiltonhealthsciences.ca; hamiltonhealthsciences.ca; hamiltonhealthsciences.ca; criticalcareontario.ca; hamiltonhealthsciences.ca; hamiltonhealthsciences.ca; hamiltonhealthsciences.ca; hamiltonemergencywaittimes.ca; en.wikipedia.org
Can I ask for an interpreter at McMaster Children's Hospital?
You can request translation services at Hamilton emergency departments and urgent care centres. Tell the care team which language you need.
Source: Hamilton Emergency Wait Times
Where can I get crisis support near McMaster Children's Hospital?
For an emergency, call 911. Call or text 988 for suicide crisis support. Hamilton's COAST service is available 24 hours a day on 905-972-8338. St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton provides Emergency Psychiatry Services at 50 Charlton Avenue East.
Source: Hamilton Emergency Wait Times
How can I share feedback about care at McMaster Children's Hospital?
Contact Patient Experience at Hamilton Health Sciences through the official hospital website. You can also raise concerns with the healthcare team during your visit.
Source: Hamilton Emergency Wait Times
Map and directions
McMaster Children's Hospital
1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5
Nearby children's ER wait times right now
Straight-line distance. A shorter wait is worth a longer drive only if the trip is safe.
Nearest tracked children's ERs
Nearest tracked ERs for adults
OpenERSt. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton wait time
Hamilton · 3.9 km
Average wait to see a doctor (last 6 hours)
1 hour 10 minutes48 minutes shorter than McMaster Children's Hospital- Open 24 hours
- Treats: 18+
OpenERHamilton General Hospital wait time
Hamilton · 5.0 km
Average wait to see a doctor (last 6 hours)
1 hour 59 minutesAbout the same as McMaster Children's Hospital- Open 24 hours
- Treats: 18+
OpenERJuravinski Hospital wait time
Hamilton · 6.3 km
Average wait to see a doctor (last 6 hours)
3 hours 51 minutes1 hour 53 minutes longer than McMaster Children's Hospital- Open 24 hours
- Treats: 18+
OpenEROakville Hospital wait time
Oakville · 25 km
Estimated wait to see a physician
2 hours 52 minutesLong wait- Open 24 hours
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: West End Urgent Care (1.6 km)
Not sure where to go?
Call Health811 at 811 to talk to a nurse. About Health811
Call 911
Chest pain or pressure, signs of a stroke, severe bleeding, trouble breathing, a serious injury, or someone who will not wake up.