Kelowna General Hospital

Best Times to Visit

Quieter times: Emergency departments are typically least busy in the early morning hours between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on weekdays. If your situation is not immediately life-threatening, visiting during these quieter windows may result in shorter wait times. Always call 911 for life-threatening emergencies regardless of time.

Busier times: Like most large urban emergency departments, KGH tends to be busiest on weekday evenings (after 5:00 p.m. when physician offices close), weekends, and holiday periods. Monday mornings can also see surges as patients who delayed care over the weekend arrive. Check real-time wait estimates before heading in when possible.

About Kelowna General Hospital

Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) is a major tertiary referral hospital located at 2268 Pandosy St in Kelowna, BC, operating a 30,000 sq ft Emergency Department 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as a Level 2 trauma centre. Serving over 900,000 residents across the southern interior of BC — including Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland, and Winfield — KGH is the primary acute care and specialist referral destination for the Interior Health region, seeing approximately 95,000 unscheduled ER visits annually. As the only hospital outside the Lower Mainland or Vancouver Island to perform cardiac surgery and angioplasty, KGH is the appropriate destination for high-acuity emergencies, complex trauma, cardiac events, stroke, and serious pediatric or obstetric emergencies in the Okanagan.

Services & Specialties

Level 2 Trauma Centre, Cardiac Surgery & Angioplasty (only site in BC interior), Cardiac Angiogram & Diagnostic Cardiology, Cardiac Stepdown Unit, 41-bed ICU / CCU / High Acuity Unit, Neurosurgery & Acute Neurology, Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, General Surgery (15 operating rooms), Urology, ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat), Maternity, Obstetrics & Antepartum Care, Pediatric Emergency Care, Adult & Adolescent Psychiatry, Acute Psychiatric Services, Addiction Consult Team, CT Scan & Medical Imaging, Endoscopy, Chemotherapy, Burns Clinic, End of Life / Palliative Care, Diabetes Education, 24-Hour Sexual Assault Emergency Care (ages 13+, no referral required), Forensic Evidence Collection, Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS) triage, Rooftop Helipad for air ambulance.

Amenities

• Cafeteria / Food Services
• KGH Foundation Coffee Shop (Mon–Fri 7:30am–7:30pm; Sat–Sun 8:30am–4:30pm)
• ATM on site
• Gift Shop
• Flower Shop
• Chapel and Spiritual Health Services
• Interpreter & Translation Services
• Indigenous Patient Navigator
• Wireless Internet (Wi-Fi)
• Public Telephones
• TVs
• Newspaper
• Mailbox
• Lost & Found
• Volunteer Services
• Smoke-free campus (indoors and outdoors)

Other Care Options

Not every health issue needs an ER visit. Find out where to go for care → · 4 walk-in clinics in Kelowna → · 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

• KGH is a Level 2 trauma centre and tertiary referral hospital — it is the right choice for serious emergencies, cardiac events, stroke, major trauma, and complex surgical needs in the Okanagan.
• After 8:00 p.m., all visitors and support persons must enter through the main Centennial Building entrance, which is open 24/7, and sign in with Security on arrival.
• If you are an Indigenous patient or family member, ask for the on-site Indigenous Patient Navigator, who can provide culturally safe support and help communicate with your care team.
• If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, KGH provides 24-hour emergency medical care for sexual assault for anyone aged 13 and older — no referral is required, and forensic evidence can be stored for up to one year.
• Parking can fill quickly, especially on weekdays. Budget extra time to find a spot in the main parkade, and remember that the Park&Pay system accepts tap payments including Apple Pay and Google Pay.

What to Bring

• Government-issued photo ID (e.g., BC Services Card, driver's licence, passport)
• BC CareCard or provincial health card number
• List of all current medications, dosages, and allergies
• Any relevant medical records, test results, or referral documents
• Provincial insurance information or extended health benefits card if applicable
• Phone charger or portable battery — wait times can be lengthy
• Comfortable clothing and a warm layer, as emergency departments can be cool
• Snacks and water for accompanying support persons (patients will be assessed for dietary needs)

Parking

Paid parking is available in the main parkade on site. Passes are purchased from machines in the lobby of the Clinical Academic Campus building, accepting credit, debit, Apple Pay, and Google Pay via the Park&Pay system. Published rates are approximately $1.50/hour and $6.00/day (confirm current rates with Parking Services, as rates may have changed). Monthly passes can be arranged by calling Interior Health Parking Services at 1-855-491-6498. A Fee Exempt Patient Parking Program is available for qualified patients — contact Parking Services for details. On-street parking on surrounding streets is paid parking every day.

Getting There

BC Transit Routes 1, 8, and 11 all serve Kelowna General Hospital, with a dedicated on-site bus stop at Kelowna General Hospital Bay C. Route 1 (Lakeshore) runs between Mission Rec Exchange and Queensway Exchange. Route 8 (University/College) connects Okanagan College Exchange and UBCO Exchange. Nearest street-level stops are at Pandosy at Cadder and Richter at Sutherland.

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.

This hospital does not publish a live wait, so the figure above comes from our model rather than from its own feed. We publish how that model performs where it can be checked, at the hospitals that do publish. See the accuracy scorecard, or how we work the number out.

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