Powell River, BC · Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Last updated: 1m ago · View all British Columbia hospitals →
Nearby Alternatives
Residents with non-emergency needs may also explore telehealth options or BC HealthLink (8-1-1); for advanced specialty care, hospitals in the Greater Vancouver area serve as regional referral centres.
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qathet General Hospital (formerly Powell River General Hospital) is the primary acute care facility serving the qathet Regional District and surrounding remote coastal communities of British Columbia. The 42-bed hospital operates a 24/7 emergency department and provides a broad range of services including surgery, ICU, obstetrics, oncology, and inpatient psychiatry — an unusually comprehensive scope for a community hospital of its size. Residents of Powell River and surrounding areas should use this ER for urgent and emergency medical needs; patients requiring advanced specialty interventions such as trauma centre care or cardiac procedures may be transferred to Vancouver-area hospitals.
On-site parking is available at 5000 Joyce Ave. Designated electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are available for patients, visitors, staff, and medical staff. For specific parking lot details or fees, call the hospital at (604) 485-3211.
qathet General Hospital is accessible from Vancouver via two BC Ferries routes: take the Langdale ferry from Horseshoe Bay, drive Hwy 101 to Earl's Cove, then take the Saltery Bay ferry. From Saltery Bay, follow Hwy 101 approximately 20 km to Powell River, turn right onto Joyce Ave, and continue past four stoplights — the hospital is approximately 1 km past the fourth light on the right. Pacific Coastal Airlines also serves Powell River from Vancouver (1-800-663-2872 or pacific-coastal.com). For local bus routes, contact qathet Transit (Powell River Transit).
No historical wait time data is currently available for this location. As a general guideline, mid-morning on weekdays (Tuesday through Thursday) tends to be less busy at community hospital ERs. For truly urgent or life-threatening situations, go immediately regardless of time.
Without historical wait data, specific busy periods cannot be confirmed. Like most emergency departments, evenings, weekends, and holidays typically see higher patient volumes. If your condition is non-urgent, consider calling 8-1-1 (BC HealthLink) to explore alternatives before visiting during these peak 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 using historical volumes, current patient counts, and staffing. Actual wait times may vary.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.