Lions Gate Hospital's Emergency Department in North Vancouver, BC provides 24/7 emergency care for life-threatening illness, injury, and overdose, serving residents of North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Bowen Island, Lions Bay, and communities along the Sea-to-Sky corridor and Sunshine Coast. As part of Vancouver Coastal Health, LGH is a 329-bed acute care facility offering a broad spectrum of specialized services including critical care, surgery, maternity, psychiatry, and neurosurgery. Patients with the most critical conditions are always seen first, and care is delivered by a multidisciplinary team that includes physicians, nurses, social workers, and allied health professionals.
Services & Specialties
24/7 Emergency Department, Psychiatric Emergency and Assessment Team (PEAT), Mental Health and Psychiatric Services (HOpe Centre), Forensic Nursing — sexual assault and intimate partner violence care, Critical Care / ICU, General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Maternity and Labour & Delivery, Pediatric Care, Cardiac Care, Chemotherapy / Oncology, Palliative and Hospice Care, Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Rehabilitative Services, Culturally Safe Care for Indigenous Patients and Families.
Amenities
Main cafeteria — open Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–5:00 PM (closed weekends and statutory holidays)
Mehri's Place coffee bar/café in main lobby — open Mon–Fri 6:30 AM–5:30 PM, Sat–Sun 7:00 AM–5:30 PM (closed statutory holidays)
Outdoor patio seating at Mehri's Place
Vending machines available throughout the hospital
Food services entrance on 15th Avenue (main entrance)
Bring your BC Services Card (CareCard) and a government-issued photo ID — this speeds up registration at triage.
Write down or bring a printed list of all your current medications, including dosages, as the ED does not have access to your family doctor's records.
Use the dedicated five-minute drop-off zone on St. Georges Avenue in front of the ER entrance if someone is driving you — this avoids delays finding parkade space.
If you are experiencing a mental health or psychiatric crisis, LGH has a dedicated Psychiatric Emergency and Assessment Team (PEAT) with private assessment rooms available through the ED.
If you or a loved one is Indigenous, culturally safe care and direct patient and family support services are available at LGH — do not hesitate to ask staff.
What to Bring
BC Services Card or CareCard (provincial health insurance)
Government-issued photo ID (driver's licence, passport, etc.)
Written list of all current medications and dosages
List of known allergies
Any relevant medical devices (e.g., CPAP, hearing aids, glasses)
Personal comfort items for a potential wait (phone charger, snack, water bottle)
A support person or family member if possible
Insurance or supplemental health coverage information if applicable
Parking
Paid parking is available in the hospital parkade on 15th Street, east of St. Georges Avenue. A dedicated five-minute patient drop-off zone is located directly in front of the Emergency Department, accessible via St. Georges Avenue. Electric vehicle charging stations are available for patients and visitors (Level 2 stations up to 4 hours; Level 3 stations up to 1 hour). Street parking around LGH is limited. Overnight parking for trailers or motorhomes is not permitted in the parkade. Check vch.ca for current parking rates.
Getting There
Lions Gate Hospital is well served by TransLink. Nearby stops include Eastbound E 15 St @ St. Georges Ave, Southbound Lonsdale Ave @ W 15 St, and Westbound W 15th St @ Lonsdale Ave. Bus routes serving the area include the 229, 230, 232, 240, 241, 255, 881, and N24. SeaBus ferry service connects downtown Vancouver to Lonsdale Quay, from which several of these routes provide onward service to the hospital.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lions Gate Hospital have psychiatric emergency services?
Yes. LGH has a dedicated Psychiatric Emergency and Assessment Team (PEAT) that operates through the Emergency Department. PEAT provides prompt psychiatric assessments, expedited triage for psychiatric patients, and coordination between inpatient psychiatric services, the ED, and community resources. The PEAT unit features four private-room beds and a quieter, more secure environment.
Can survivors of sexual assault or domestic violence receive care at Lions Gate Hospital?
Yes. LGH has a team of forensic nurse examiners who provide confidential, trauma-informed forensic and health care to individuals of any gender aged 13 and older who have experienced sexual assault, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, or human trafficking within the last seven days. This service is available through the hospital.
Which communities does Lions Gate Hospital's Emergency Department serve?
LGH is the primary hospital for the City and District of North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Lions Bay, and Bowen Island. The ED also serves patients from the broader Sea-to-Sky corridor, the Sunshine Coast, and coastal communities including Bella Bella and Bella Coola, as well as numerous First Nations communities in those regions.
Is there food available at Lions Gate Hospital during an ER visit?
Yes. Mehri's Place, a coffee bar and café located in the main hospital lobby, is open Monday–Friday 6:30 AM–5:30 PM and Saturday–Sunday 7:00 AM–5:30 PM (closed statutory holidays). The main cafeteria is open Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–5:00 PM. Vending machines are also available throughout the building for after-hours needs.
How does triage work at the Lions Gate Hospital Emergency Department?
Patients are assessed and seen based on the severity of their condition, not the order in which they arrive. Those with the most critical or life-threatening conditions are always prioritized. As a result, wait times can vary significantly depending on how busy the department is and the acuity of cases being treated at any given time.
How do I get to Lions Gate Hospital by public transit?
LGH is accessible via several TransLink bus routes including the 229, 230, 232, 240, 241, 255, 881, and N24, with stops near the hospital on E 15th Street and Lonsdale Avenue. You can also take the SeaBus from downtown Vancouver to Lonsdale Quay and connect to a bus from there. Plan your trip at translink.ca.
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 33 minutes against what hospitals themselves later posted, compared with 41 minutes for the hospital's own current figure, and was the closer of the two 58% of the time. See the full scorecard, or how we work the number out.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
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