Campbell River and District Regional Hospital

Best Times to Visit

About Campbell River and District Regional Hospital

The North Island Hospital Campbell River & District, located at 375 2nd Ave in Campbell River, BC, is a modern 95-bed acute care facility serving a broad regional catchment that includes communities such as Gold River, Port Hardy, Cortes Island, and Tahsis — a population of nearly 36,000. The Emergency Department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is supported by an ICU, surgical suites, telemetry, diagnostic imaging, and maternity services, making it the primary emergency resource for the northern Vancouver Island region. Note that the ER entrance is located off Birch Street near Evergreen Road, separate from the main hospital entrance on 2nd Avenue.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit (ICU, 6 beds), Surgical Services (4 operating rooms), Diagnostic Imaging / Medical Imaging, Maternity & Obstetrics (Perinatal Unit), Telemetry Unit, Cardiopulmonary Diagnostic Services, Endoscopy Services, Paediatric Care, Outpatient Laboratory, Cancer Care, Rehabilitation Services (Occupational & Physiotherapy), Ambulatory Care, Social Work, Indigenous Health Services, Minor Day Procedures.

Amenities

• Free WiFi (network: IslandHealthGuestWiFi)
• On-site café
• Campbell River Hospital Auxiliary Gift Shop
• Medical Laboratory (on-site)
• Medical Imaging (on-site)
• UBC teaching and training facilities

Other Care Options

Not every health issue needs an ER visit. Find out where to go for care → · urgent care wait times →

Pharmacists in British Columbia can assess and prescribe for dozens of common conditions. See what they can treat →

Compare hospital wait times across Canada. View all wait times →

Tips Before You Go

• Use the correct entrance: the Emergency Department entrance is on Birch Street near Evergreen Road — not the main hospital entrance on 2nd Avenue. First-time visitors often confuse the two.
• If you are travelling from a remote community such as Gold River, Tahsis, or Cortes Island, call ahead if possible and ensure you have arranged appropriate transport, as this is the primary regional emergency facility.
• Connect to free WiFi using the 'IslandHealthGuestWiFi' network while you wait — useful for keeping family informed or checking in remotely.
• Bus routes 1, 2, 7, and 8 stop directly at the hospital — a practical option if you are not in a life-threatening emergency and do not have a vehicle.
• As with any ER, weekday mornings and early afternoons tend to be less congested than evenings and weekends — if your condition is non-urgent, timing your visit can reduce wait times.

What to Bring

• BC Services Card or provincial health insurance card (CareCard)
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of current medications, including dosages
• List of known allergies
• Any relevant medical records or specialist letters
• Phone charger or portable battery pack for extended waits
• Comfortable clothing and a light sweater or jacket
• Cash or debit/credit card for parking or incidental costs

Parking

Vehicle access to the hospital campus is via the main entrance/exit off 2nd Avenue. On-site parking is available at the main entrance and in an adjacent parking lot, with a mix of structured and surface stalls. Parking fees have not been confirmed publicly — verify current rates directly with the hospital upon arrival.

Getting There

The hospital is served by BC Transit Campbell River Transit System routes 1, 2, 7, and 8, with a dedicated 'Campbell River Hospital' bus stop approximately 71 metres (about a 1-minute walk) from the facility. The Island Link Bus also connects Campbell River to other Vancouver Island communities including Nanaimo. Taxi services are available from several local private companies.

Frequently Asked Questions

About ER Wait Times

Emergency departments use triage. Patients with more serious conditions are seen first, regardless of arrival time.

Wait times are estimates based on British Columbia health data. Actual wait times may vary.

We check our own accuracy. Forecasting two hours ahead, the ERstat estimate was typically off by 32 minutes against what hospitals themselves later posted, compared with 42 minutes for the hospital's own current figure, and was the closer of the two 59% of the time. See the full scorecard, or how we work the number out.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.