Open 24 hours. We estimate about 2h 22m.
This hospital doesn't report live data.
In an emergency, call 911.
Independent service, not affiliated with this hospital. Free nurse advice: 811.
British Columbia doesn't publish live data for this ER
That's why we show a prediction instead. See British Columbia's transparency grade →
Non-emergency options
Quieter times: No historical wait time data is currently available for this location. Generally, mid-morning on weekdays (Tuesday through Thursday) tends to be less busy at rural community ERs. If your condition is not life-threatening, calling 8-1-1 (HealthLink BC) first can help you determine the most appropriate level of care.
Busier times: Like most emergency departments, Kootenay Lake Hospital's ER is typically busiest on weekend evenings and Monday mornings. Holiday periods and severe winter weather events in the Kootenays can also increase ER volume. For non-urgent issues, consider visiting during weekday daytime hours when possible.
Nearby Alternatives
Trail · 53 km away
Creston · 72 km away
Nakusp · 90 km away
Live map, alerts, and forecasts
Open on ERstat →Kootenay Lake Hospital is a Level 1 community hospital located at 3 View St in Nelson, BC, operated by the Interior Health Authority and serving Nelson, the Slocan Valley, Kaslo, and surrounding Kootenay Lake communities. The 24/7 emergency department was significantly expanded — tripling in size to over 9,900 square feet — and features an on-site CT scanner, making it the primary emergency and acute care hub for a wide rural region. Patients requiring complex surgical procedures or tertiary specialist care may be transferred to Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail.
24/7 emergency care, CT scanning, X-ray and radiology, Laboratory services, General surgery, Acute inpatient care, Obstetrics, Outpatient ambulatory care, Physiotherapy, Dialysis, Chemotherapy clinic, IV therapy, Diabetic education clinic, Respiratory clinic, Cardiology — ECG/EKG and Holter monitor services, Palliative care, Observation and assessment.
Not every health issue needs an ER visit. Find out where to go for care → · urgent care wait times →
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Compare hospital wait times across Canada. View all wait times →
On-site parking is available for patients and visitors. The facility is wheelchair accessible. For specific parking details or current rates, contact the hospital directly at 250-352-3111.
BC Transit's Health Connections service provides accessible transportation to non-emergency medical appointments at Kootenay Lake Hospital, with routes connecting from Nakusp and Kaslo available by request. For local Nelson transit, BC Transit's West Kootenay service covers routes near the View Street area. Contact BC Transit for current schedules and route information.
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.
Incorrect hours, wrong address, or outdated information? Let us know.