Urgent Care Wait Times

Explore 29 urgent care centres in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario. Check available wait times from official sources, opening hours and directions.

13 of 29 reportingSource: official sources

Wait times at urgent care centres right now

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Alberta urgent care wait times

British Columbia urgent care wait times

Manitoba urgent care wait times

Ontario urgent care wait times

What is an urgent care centre?

Urgent care centres are for unexpected health problems that are not life-threatening but usually need treatment the same day or evening, such as broken bones, sprains, cuts, asthma, dehydration, pain and infections. They have doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners, with lab and X-ray on site, but they are not emergency departments. Patients are seen by how urgent their condition is, sickest first, not in order of arrival.

Sources: AHS: Urgent Care Services; Primary Care Alberta: Navigating care options

Other provinces use different names for similar centres: in British Columbia they are urgent and primary care centres (UPCCs), where you may need to register or book first.

Source: HealthLink BC: Urgent and primary care centres

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.

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

Urgent care wait time questions

How long is the wait at urgent care?

Right now 13 urgent care centres are reporting a wait, from 30 min to 4 hr 0 min, as estimated by Niagara Health, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, WRHN @ Queen's Blvd., London Health Sciences Centre, WRHA HSC Children's Emergency, LHSC Children's Hospital, WRHA Urgent Care, edwaittimes.ca, Brant Community Healthcare System, WRHN @ Midtown, Halton Healthcare, BCHS Willett Urgent Care Centre, Windsor Regional Hospital emergency wait times, Hamilton Emergency Wait Times and Alberta Health Services. Waits change quickly, and the sickest patients are always seen first.

Are urgent care centres open 24 hours?

Only Airdrie Community Health Centre, Concordia Hospital, Seven Oaks General Hospital, Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre and Victoria General Hospital are open 24 hours. The others have set hours, shown on each card, and stop taking patients before they close. After hours, go to an emergency department.

Can children go to urgent care?

It depends on the centre: each card shows who it treats. For a baby under 3 months with a fever, or any child who is seriously ill or injured, go to an emergency department or call 911. If you are not sure where to go, call Health Link (811), HealthLink BC (811), Health Links – Info Santé (204-788-8200) or Health811 (811) to speak with a nurse.

Do I need an appointment for urgent care?

No appointment is needed. People arrive on their own or by ambulance, and a nurse assesses everyone on arrival to decide who is seen first.

How much does urgent care cost?

Medically necessary care at an urgent care centre is covered by the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. Bring your Alberta personal health card and photo ID.

More ways to check wait times

Photo credits (2)
  • Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre: photo by Yolanda Lie (Likeliehood), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Concordia Hospital: photo by Ccyyrree, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Medical emergency? Call 911 now.

Do not check wait times or drive yourself if you have chest pain, signs of a stroke, severe bleeding or trouble breathing. Paramedics can start treatment on the way to hospital.

Call 911