University of Alberta Hospital ER Wait Times Edmonton AB

Best time to visit the ER at University of Alberta Hospital

University of Alberta Hospital wait time graph

Emergency rooms in Edmonton

5 other departments in Edmonton besides University of Alberta Hospital, shortest wait first.

Nearby ERs outside Edmonton

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.

Not an emergency? 1 walk-in option in Edmonton

Urgent care and walk-in clinics handle minor injuries, infections and prescriptions, usually far faster than an emergency department. Their hours are limited — check before you go.

Tips for visiting the ER in Edmonton

• 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 Alberta Health Care card and a medication list

  Bring your Alberta Health Care 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 Edmonton 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 Health Link (811) first if you're unsure

  Health Link (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 University of Alberta Hospital?

The emergency wait at University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton is about 5h 28m, published by Alberta Health Services (albertahealthservices.ca). WaitUpdates.ca re-checks this number roughly every 10 minutes, so the figure at the top of this page is the latest one published.

Which Edmonton emergency room has the shortest wait right now?

Of the 6 departments in Edmonton publishing a live wait, Royal Alexandra Hospital is currently shortest at 2h 53m. Waits move through the day, so check this page before you leave rather than relying on a number from a few hours ago.

How many emergency departments are there in Edmonton?

WaitUpdates.ca tracks 7 hospital departments in Edmonton, 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 University of Alberta Hospital's wait times?

Directly from Alberta Health Services (albertahealthservices.ca), which publishes it publicly. We re-check about every 10 minutes and show when the figure was last refreshed. Separately, visitors to this page report how long they actually waited, and those reports appear in their own section — they never change the official number.

Is University of Alberta Hospital open 24 hours?

Yes. Emergency departments in Alberta, including University of Alberta 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 Edmonton is long?

This page lists the 5 nearest emergency departments outside Edmonton with their current waits and distance, so you can weigh a drive against a wait. You can also call Health Link at 811 to speak with a registered nurse about where to go. For something non-urgent, there is 1 walk-in or urgent care option in Edmonton listed on this page. 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 University of Alberta 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 Alberta

• Calgary5 ERs
• Athabasca1 ER
• Barrhead1 ER
• Bassano1 ER
• Beaverlodge1 ER
• Black Diamond1 ER
• Blairmore1 ER
• Bonnyville1 ER