The Ottawa Hospital - Riverside Campus ER Wait Times ON
Ottawa, Ontario · ER
Wait times last updated · 48 days ago
Official / estimated
Estimated ER wait
Likely range 2h – 5h 30m
This hospital doesn't publish a live ER wait. Estimated from historical patterns at similar hospitals. · checked 48d ago
Recent wait reports submitted by visitors
What people who waited here actually experienced, newest first.
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Reported by visitors
Last report: no reports yet · Updated live from visitor submissions.
Best time to visit the ER at The Ottawa Hospital - Riverside Campus
Not enough history yet to call a best time.
This pattern is built from the waits we record at The Ottawa Hospital - Riverside Campus around the clock. It appears once every hour of the day has several readings behind it, rather than guessing from a thin sample.
In the meantime: across Canadian emergency departments, evenings between about 6 p.m. and midnight are typically the busiest, and early mornings are usually quietest. Monday is often the heaviest weekday.
The Ottawa Hospital - Riverside Campus wait time graph
No wait history for this hospital yet.
We chart the last 24 hours of published waits here, alongside any wait times visitors report. There aren't enough readings for The Ottawa Hospital - Riverside Campus to draw a line yet.
Waited here recently? Submitting your wait above is the fastest way to get this graph started.
Location & emergency contacts
1967 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 1A2
Ottawa, Ontario
- 811Health advice line24/7 registered nurse for non-urgent concerns (Health Link / Info-Santé)
- 988Suicide Crisis HelplineCall or text, 24/7, across Canada
- 1-844-764-7669Poison & Drug InformationPoisoning, overdose or medication emergencies
Emergency rooms in Ottawa
5 other departments in Ottawa besides The Ottawa Hospital - Riverside Campus, shortest wait first.
| Hospital | Type | Wait | Source | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hôpital Montfort | ER | 3h 50m | Predicted | 48d ago |
| Queensway Carleton Hospital | ER | 4h 10m | Predicted | 48d ago |
| Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) | Children | 4h 30m | Predicted | 48d ago |
| The Ottawa Hospital - General Campus | ER | 4h 30m | Predicted | 48d ago |
| The Ottawa Hospital - Civic Campus | ER | 5h | Predicted | 48d ago |
Nearby ERs outside Ottawa
The closest emergency departments in neighbouring communities — worth the drive when the local wait is long. Distances are straight-line, so allow more for real roads.
| Hospital | Distance | Wait | Source | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hôpital Glengarry Memorial HospitalAlexandria | 81 km | 2h 15m | Predicted | 48d ago |
| Almonte General HospitalAlmonte | 45 km | 2h 30m | Predicted | 48d ago |
| Winchester District Memorial HospitalWinchester | 42 km | 2h 50m | Predicted | 48d ago |
| Pembroke Regional HospitalPembroke | 121 km | 3h 30m | Predicted | 48d ago |
Tips for visiting the ER in Ottawa
Call 911 instead if it's severe
Chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke signs, heavy bleeding, or a serious injury — call 911 rather than driving. Paramedics start treatment on the way and you are assessed on arrival instead of joining the queue.
Bring your OHIP card and a medication list
Bring your OHIP card, photo ID, and a written list of your medications, doses and allergies. It is the single thing that speeds up registration and triage most, and it is easy to forget when you are unwell.
Expect to be seen by severity, not arrival
Triage means the sickest patient goes first, so the posted wait is an estimate for an average patient. Tell the triage nurse immediately if your symptoms change or get worse while you are waiting — that can change your priority.
Check the wait before you leave, and check nearby Ottawa options
Waits move by the hour. Refresh this page just before you set off, and compare against the other departments listed further down — a longer drive can still mean a shorter total time.
Try Health811 (811) first if you're unsure
Health811 (811) connects you to a registered nurse, free and around the clock, who can tell you whether an emergency visit is warranted or whether a clinic, a pharmacist or waiting until morning is safe.
Bring someone, and something to do
Emergency departments run 24/7 and waits of several hours are common. Bring a phone charger, water, any regular medication you take, and if you can, someone who can speak for you and drive you home.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the current ER wait time at The Ottawa Hospital - Riverside Campus?
- The Ottawa Hospital - Riverside Campus does not publish a live emergency wait time. WaitUpdates.ca shows an estimate of about 3h 30m instead, based on historical patterns at comparable hospitals. Treat it as a rough guide — call the hospital for anything time-sensitive.
- How many emergency departments are there in Ottawa?
- WaitUpdates.ca tracks 8 hospital departments in Ottawa, 6 of which are emergency rooms. They are all listed on this page with their current waits, shortest first.
- Should I go to the emergency room with the shortest wait time?
- Not necessarily. Canadian emergency departments triage by severity, not arrival order, so a sicker patient arriving after you is seen first. A department showing a longer posted wait may still treat you sooner if your condition is urgent, and the posted figure is an estimate for average patients, not a promise. Use the shortest wait to choose between comparable options — never to decide whether to seek care at all.
- Where does WaitUpdates.ca get The Ottawa Hospital - Riverside Campus's wait times?
- The Ottawa Hospital - Riverside Campus publishes no live figure, so the headline number is an estimate. Visitor reports on this page are shown separately and are never blended into the official number, because a handful of reports can be skewed easily.
- Is The Ottawa Hospital - Riverside Campus open 24 hours?
- Yes. Emergency departments in Ontario, including The Ottawa Hospital - Riverside Campus, are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays. Urgent care and walk-in clinics keep shorter hours, so check before travelling to one of those instead.
- What should I do if the wait in Ottawa is long?
- This page lists the 4 nearest emergency departments outside Ottawa with their current waits and distance, so you can weigh a drive against a wait. You can also call Health811 at 811 to speak with a registered nurse about where to go. For something non-urgent, a walk-in clinic or a pharmacist can often help with no wait. If symptoms are severe or worsening, call 911 — long waits are never a reason to avoid emergency care.
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