Emergency Department
Hanover & District Hospital’s Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with a physician on-site. HDH has been experiencing higher volumes and wait times in the Emergency Department. As always please continue to be kind and patient while visiting the hospital. (Wait Times in Ontario) The triage system ensures that all patients will be seen by a nurse within 15 minutes of arrival. Our fully qualified emergency physicians and nurses proudly provide emergency services to over 19,000 patient per year.
When Should I go to the Emergency Department?
The Emergency Department (ED) is dedicated to providing urgent medical care for serious or life-threatening health concerns. It is available 24/7 to offer immediate care for those in need of emergency services. If you are experiencing a medical emergency do not hesitate to visit the ED or call 911. If you do need ED care come prepared with your Ontario Health Care, list of allergies and medications and a supply of medication you are taking in case you are admitted.
For non-emergency health issues, such as minor illness or prescription renewals, it's best to contact your family doctor or nurse practitioner.
If you do not have a Family Doctor:
Health Care Connect: This Ministry of Health program helps Ontarians without a family healthcare provider connect with a physician or nurse practioner. To register or learn more, healthcareconnect or call 1-800-445-1822.
Health811 (Telehealth): Call 811 (1-866-797-0000) to receive health advice from a registered nurse day or night for free.
211 Ontario: 211 is a helpline that easily connects people to social services, programs and community supports they need.
What to Expect in the Emergency Department?
Where you arrive by ambulance or on your own a triage nurse will ask you several questions and perform a few simple procedures to assess your condition. This will help decide how urgently you need to be seen by a doctor. This process is known as Triage. Patients are treated based on how urgent their health care needs are. Once the triage assessment is complete, registration will take place and, based on several factors, you will be directed to either a treatment room or the waiting area. Although Hanover & District Hospital has shorter wait times in comparison to provincial averages please be prepared to wait. Emergency care is not provided on a first-come first-served basis. Your wait time will depend on:
- How urgently you need care;
- How urgently others in the Emergency Department need care, including those who arrive by ambulance;
- How busy the Emergency Department is when you arrive; and
- Once you have been assessed it may be necessary for you to have further tests that will require you to wait (e.g. X-rays or blood tests).
If your condition worsens while you are waiting, please advise the triage nurse.
Our staff is committed to providing quality, patient centered care to all of our patients – Our patients are our priority!