Princeton General Hospital

Best Times to Visit

Quieter times: No historical wait time data is 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 non-urgent, calling ahead at 250-295-3233 may help you plan your visit.

Busier times: No historical wait time data is available for this location. Like most ERs, Princeton General Hospital may be busier on weekends, Monday mornings, and during evening hours. Statutory holidays can also see higher volumes.

About Princeton General Hospital

Princeton General Hospital is a Level 1 Community Hospital operated by Interior Health, serving the rural communities of Princeton and Hedley in the Okanagan health service area. The emergency department is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing acute care, diagnostic services, laboratory, radiology, and a broad range of outpatient and specialty services for patients of all ages. Patients requiring advanced specialty care such as cardiac surgery or complex trauma may be stabilized here and transferred to a larger regional centre like Penticton Regional Hospital.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department, Acute Care, General Medicine, Laboratory (inpatient and outpatient), Radiology (X-ray), ECG and Holter Monitoring, Intensive Care, Convalescent Care, Rehabilitation Services, Psychiatry, Telehealth / Virtual Specialist Consultations, Wound Care, Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) Program, Community Care Clinic, Outpatient Nutrition Counselling, Patient and Family Counselling, BC Early Hearing Program, Addiction Consult Team, Drug and Alcohol Resource Team, HIV Testing, Hospice Services, Specialty Outpatient Clinics.

Amenities

• TVs available for patients
• Public telephones on-site
• Pets allowed
• Wheelchair accessible facility and entrance
• After-hours emergency entrance (use after 8 p.m.)
• Ridgewood Lodge (attached 35-bed long-term care facility)

Other Care Options

Not every health issue needs an ER visit. Find out where to go for care → · 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

• After 8:00 p.m., the main entrance is closed — use the emergency entrance at 98 Ridgewood Drive to access the hospital.
• For specialist care not available on-site, telehealth services connect you with specialists remotely, reducing the need to travel to a larger city.
• If you require advanced care such as cardiac surgery or high-risk obstetrics, you may be transferred to Penticton Regional Hospital — consider packing extra essentials if travelling from the Princeton area.
• Princeton General Hospital is part of an Interior Health pilot project to improve overnight rural emergency access, so overnight ER coverage is a priority for this facility.
• Free parking is available on-site, so driving directly to the hospital is your most reliable option given the lack of public transit in Princeton.

What to Bring

• BC Services Card or provincial health card
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of current medications and dosages
• Any relevant medical records or recent test results
• Insurance or supplemental health plan information
• Emergency contact information
• Comfort items for a potential wait (snacks, water bottle, warm layer)
• Phone charger or portable battery pack

Parking

Free on-site parking is available at 98 Ridgewood Drive. The facility and parking lot are wheelchair accessible.

Getting There

Princeton is a small rural community without a formal public transit system. Most patients travel by personal vehicle. Community transportation options may be available — contact the hospital or local services for assistance.

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.