Posted On: July 3, 2025
From: Paula Smith - Senior Communications Consultant
After a short delay, Island Health has launched a new webpage that shares estimated Emergency Department (ED) wait times for our eight major hospital sites. This resource is now live at www.islandhealth.ca/find-care.
The page is designed to support people with non-urgent health needs in making informed choices about where—and how—to access care. By offering a clearer picture of wait times and other available services, it helps ensure patients can find the right care at the right time.
What You’ll Find on the Page
In addition to ED wait times, the page includes quick access to:
- Same-Day/Next-Day care options like UPCCs, Urgent Care Centres, and primary care clinics
- Pharmacies
- HealthLink BC
- Local community health services
This makes it easier for individuals to explore alternatives to the emergency department when their needs don’t require urgent or life-saving care.
How Wait Times Are Calculated
Wait times are based on historical data—specifically, how long it took patients to see a physician during the same hour and day of the week over the past eight weeks. Using this approach, about 90% of patients can expect to be seen within the posted time.
What to Keep in Mind
- Times are estimates and can change depending on real-time conditions
- Triage protocols remain unchanged—patients with the most urgent needs are always seen first
- In a medical emergency, individuals should still call 911 or go to the nearest ED immediately
Why This Matters
Whether you're on the front lines or in a supporting role, many of us are asked by friends, family, and community members where to go for care. This new tool helps answer that question with timely, practical information.
By guiding people to the right care setting, we not only support better patient outcomes—we also help reduce unnecessary pressure on emergency departments.
Take a few moments to explore the page and consider sharing it with others.
Thank you for continuing to support your patients, colleagues, and communities.