North Island Hospital Comox Valley

Best Times to Visit

Quieter times: No historical wait time data is currently available for this facility. Generally, emergency departments across Canada tend to be less busy on weekday mornings between 6am and 10am. If your concern is non-urgent, consider contacting a family doctor, walk-in clinic, or BC's 8-1-1 HealthLink line before visiting the ER.

Busier times: Without historical wait data, specific busy periods cannot be confirmed. As a general pattern, Canadian ERs tend to see higher volumes on weekday evenings, weekend afternoons, and during cold and flu season. Whenever possible, call 8-1-1 first for guidance on whether an ER visit is needed.

About North Island Hospital Comox Valley

North Island Hospital Comox Valley, located at 101 Lerwick Road in Courtenay, BC, is a 153-bed acute care hospital serving the Comox Valley and surrounding communities including Comox, Cumberland, Denman Island, Hornby Island, and Union Bay. The Emergency Department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is three times larger than the original facility it replaced, offering comprehensive emergency and critical care services. As a UBC-affiliated teaching hospital opened in 2017, it provides a high level of specialist support including intensive care, surgical services, and integrated mental health, Indigenous health, and forensic nursing programs.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Surgical services across six operating rooms, Medical Imaging and diagnostics, Cardio-pulmonary diagnostic services, Laboratory and pharmacy services, Psychiatry inpatient unit (11 beds), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU, 4 beds), Cancer Care Program, Orthopedic and hip and knee clinic, Bone and joint clinic, Forensic nursing (daily 8am–10pm via ER, no referral needed), Diabetes education, Kidney clinic, Rheumatology and haematology clinics, Palliative pain management, Rehabilitation services (occupational therapy and physiotherapy), Ophthalmology clinic, Medical daycare and minor day procedures, Social work and Indigenous Health services, Outpatient lab services.

Amenities

• Free Wi-Fi — connect to 'IslandHealthGuestWiFi'
• Café on the main floor
• On-site pharmacy
• The Gathering Place — non-denominational spiritual room supporting all faiths and cultures, including space for drumming and smudging
• Healing gardens for patients, visitors, and staff
• Traditional medicine gardens featuring plants used by Indigenous healers
• Wellness Centre for outpatient and chronic disease management services

Other Care Options

Not every health issue needs an ER visit. Find out where to go for care → · 1 walk-in clinics in Courtenay →

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

Tips Before You Go

• Patients are triaged by urgency using the CTAS system — more serious conditions are treated first regardless of arrival order, so be prepared to wait if your condition is non-urgent.
• Forensic nursing services are available directly through the Emergency Department daily from 8am to 10pm — no referral or appointment is needed, and services are free and confidential.
• Free parking is available on-site with no time limit, so you won't need to worry about feeding a meter during a longer visit.
• If you are travelling from Denman or Hornby Island, plan around BC Ferries schedules and consider calling 250-331-5900 ahead of time for guidance on urgent situations.
• Take advantage of the healing gardens and The Gathering Place spiritual room if you or a family member need a calming space during a long wait or difficult visit.
• BC Transit routes connect directly to the hospital — check current schedules on the BC Transit website before travelling, especially for evening or weekend visits.

What to Bring

• BC Services Card or provincial health card
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of current medications and dosages
• Any relevant medical history documents or specialist letters
• Provincial health number and any supplemental insurance information
• Phone charger or portable battery pack for long waits
• Snacks, water, and a change of clothes for extended visits
• A support person or contact information for a family member or friend

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.

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