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Know before you go.

There are many health care options in Hamilton. Which one is right for you? Not everything is an emergency. If you know before you go, you may not have to wait as long.

Know Before You Go

There are many health-care options in Hamilton. Which one is right for you? Not everything is an emergency. If you know before you go, you may not have to wait as long.

Types of Health Care Hamilton

REMEMBER: If you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 right away.
Non-Urgent Medical Care or AdviceYour family doctor should be your first stop for medical concerns and illnesses that are not urgent or life-threatening. Many practices offer weekend and evening clinics, 24-hour on-call services and/or virtual appointments.

Some reasons to visit your family doctor include, but are not limited to:

Treatment for common illnesses such as strep throat, sinus infections, warts and minor rashes
Onset of new medical symptoms
Referrals for specialized care
Managing chronic illnesses
Mental health concerns
Routine vaccinations
Regular health check-ups and screenings
Prescription refills

Urgent Non-Life-Threatening Medical CareHamilton has two urgent care centres which offer care by emergency-trained doctors who can address a variety of health conditions requiring immediate medical attention, but are not life-threatening. This could include, but is not limited to:

Minor cuts/wounds that may require stitches
Simple broken bones
Sprains, strains or deep bruises
Ear infections
Fevers, coughs, congestion, sore throats
Insect bites, rashes and scrapes

Severe, life-threatening issuesThere are four emergency departments in Hamilton hospitals. They are designated to treat patients experiencing any type of life-threatening emergency or trauma. Care is provided based on the severity of symptoms. This could include, but is not limited to:

Trouble breathing
Bleeding that won’t stop
Chest pain or pressure
Major broken bones
Partial or total amputation of a limb
Traumas or injuries to the head
Deep cuts or wounds
Severe burns
Severe pain
Poisoning
Loss of consciousness – unable to wake
Sudden headaches, dizziness, weakness, numbness, trouble seeing or speaking
Severe mental health issues
Severely ill or injured children
Obstetrical emergencies (labour & delivery)

Family Doctors and Nurse Practitioners

Your first stop

Your family doctor should be your first stop for medical concerns and illnesses that are not urgent or life-threatening. Many practices offer weekend and evening clinics, 24-hour on-call services and/or virtual appointments.

Some reasons to visit your family doctor include, but are not limited to:

  • Treatment for common illnesses such as strep throat, sinus infections, warts and minor rashes
  • Onset of new medical symptoms
  • Referrals for specialized care
  • Managing chronic illnesses
  • Mental health concerns
  • Routine vaccinations
  • Regular health check-ups and screenings
  • Prescription refills

Urgent Care Centres

Not life-threatening

Hamilton has two urgent care centres which offer care by emergency-trained doctors who can address a variety of health conditions requiring immediate medical attention, but are not life-threatening. This could include, but is not limited to:

  • Minor cuts/wounds that may require stitches
  • Simple broken bones
  • Sprains, strains or deep bruises
  • Ear infections
  • Fevers, coughs, congestion, sore throats
  • Insect bites, rashes and scrapes

Hamilton Urgent Care Centre locations

Main Street West Urgent Care (Hamilton Health Sciences)

690 Main Street West Hamilton
Hours: 12:00pm – 7:00pm every day

Urgent Care – King Campus (St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton

2757 King Street East Hamilton
Hours: 8:00am-10:00pm every day

Emergency Department (or 911)

Severe, life-threatening issues

There are four emergency departments in Hamilton hospitals. They are designated to treat patients experiencing any type of life-threatening emergency or trauma. Care is provided based on the severity of symptoms. This could include, but is not limited to:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Bleeding that won’t stop
  • Chest pain or pressure
  • Major broken bones
  • Partial or total amputation of a limb
  • Traumas or injuries to the head
  • Deep cuts or wounds
  • Severe burns
  • Severe pain
  • Poisoning
  • Loss of consciousness – unable to wake
  • Sudden headaches, dizziness, weakness, numbness, trouble seeing or speaking
  • Severe mental health issues
  • Severely ill or injured children
  • Obstetrical emergencies (labour & delivery)

Hamilton Emergency Department Locations

Hamilton General Hospital
237 Barton Street East, Hamilton

Juravinski Hospital & Cancer Centre
711 Concession Street, Hamilton

McMaster Children’s Hospital
(for kids aged 17 and under), 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton

Wait times for all these locations are available on the Hamilton Emergency wait times website. Please keep in mind these times are an average. Patients are prioritized based on urgency, not order of arrival, so if your symptoms are less severe and not life-threatening, your wait will be longer.

Family doctors & nurse practitioners: For non-urgent and non-threatening health conditionsYour first stop
Your family doctor should be your first stop for medical concerns and illnesses that are not urgent or life-threatening. Many practices offer weekend and evening clinics, 24-hour on-call services and/or virtual appointments.

Some reasons to visit your family doctor include, but are not limited to:

Treatment for common illnesses such as strep throat, sinus infections, warts and minor rashes
Onset of new medical symptoms
Referrals for specialized care
Managing chronic illnesses
Mental health concerns
Routine vaccinations
Regular health check-ups and screenings
Prescription refills

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