Queensway Carleton Hospital ER Wait Times Ottawa ON

Best time to visit the ER at Queensway Carleton Hospital

Queensway Carleton Hospital wait time graph

Emergency rooms in Ottawa

5 other departments in Ottawa besides Queensway Carleton Hospital, shortest wait first.

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.

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.

Frequently asked questions

What is the current ER wait time at Queensway Carleton Hospital?

Queensway Carleton Hospital does not publish a live emergency wait time. WaitUpdates.ca shows an estimate of about 4h 10m 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 Queensway Carleton Hospital's wait times?

Queensway Carleton Hospital 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 Queensway Carleton Hospital open 24 hours?

Yes. Emergency departments in Ontario, including Queensway Carleton Hospital, 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 5 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.

How accurate are the visitor-reported waits for Queensway Carleton Hospital?

They are first-hand reports from people who waited here, so they capture what the official figure can miss — but they are unverified and the sample is small. WaitUpdates.ca shows them alongside the official number rather than mixing them in. If you have waited here recently, adding your own report makes the next person's estimate better.

More cities in Ontario

• Toronto10 ERs
• Hamilton5 ERs
• London3 ERs
• Alliston2 ERs
• Kirkland Lake2 ERs
• Kitchener2 ERs
• Milton2 ERs
• North Bay2 ERs