Royal Columbian Hospital

Best Times to Visit

About Royal Columbian Hospital

Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, BC operates one of the busiest emergency departments in British Columbia, seeing nearly 88,000 patients annually across 75 modern treatment rooms organized into five specialized care zones. As one of only two Level 1 adult trauma centres in the province, it is uniquely equipped with cardiac surgery, neurosciences, high-risk maternity, and a Level 3 NICU all on a single campus — a combination found nowhere else in BC. This is the destination hospital for the most critically ill and injured patients across the Fraser Health region and beyond, making it best suited for serious, complex, or time-sensitive emergencies.

Services & Specialties

Level 1 adult trauma centre (one of two in BC), Cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology (busiest cardiac centre in BC), Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for STEMI, 24/7 Acute Stroke Team, Neurosurgery, Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), High-risk obstetrics (Level 3 maternity care), Pediatric emergency zone, Orthopedic surgery, Thoracic surgery, Plastic surgery, Mental health and substance use emergency services, On-site medical imaging suite within the ED, Four dedicated trauma bays, Air ambulance helipad reception, Internal medicine, nephrology, gastroenterology, urology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, gynecology.

Amenities

• Cafeteria (basement of Health Care Centre, Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.) with Starbucks coffee
• Eyáleq'ep Café in the Mental Health and Wellness Centre (Mon–Fri 7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m., Sat–Sun 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.) serving espresso, smoothies, and hot meals
• Tim Hortons (7 days a week, 6:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.)
• ATM in the main lobby at the hospital entrance
• On-site pharmacy
• Gift shop
• 24-hour uniformed security with routine patrols
• Smudging room in the critical care unit for patients and families
• Outdoor patio areas in critical care units
• Volunteer patient mail delivery (email youvegotmail.rch@fraserhealth.ca with patient's full name, unit, and room number)

Other Care Options

Not every health issue needs an ER visit. Find out where to go for care → · 4 walk-in clinics in New Westminster →

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

Tips Before You Go

• Take the SkyTrain to Sapperton Station on the Expo Line — the station is directly adjacent to the hospital, making it the fastest and most stress-free way to arrive, especially if you are accompanying a patient and want to avoid parking.
• Royal Columbian is a high-acuity trauma and critical care facility. If your concern is non-life-threatening — such as a minor cut, cold, or mild infection — consider a walk-in clinic or urgent care centre nearby to avoid potentially long waits.
• The emergency department uses five specialized treatment zones, including a dedicated pediatric space. When you arrive, be clear about your or your child's symptoms so triage staff can direct you to the most appropriate zone.
• If you are visiting a patient, note that the cafeteria has limited evening and weekend hours. The Eyáleq'ep Café and Tim Hortons offer extended and weekend options, and the main lobby ATM is available around the clock.
• For cardiac emergencies such as chest pain or signs of a stroke, Royal Columbian is the right destination — it performs more open-heart surgeries than any other hospital in BC and has a 24/7 Acute Stroke Team on site.

What to Bring

• Provincial health card (BC CareCard or BC Services Card)
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of all current medications, including dosages and frequency
• List of known allergies (medications, foods, latex)
• Any relevant medical records, recent test results, or specialist letters
• Phone charger or portable battery pack for long waits
• Comfortable clothing and a light jacket (ER waiting areas can be cool)
• Cash or a credit/debit card for parking and any incidental purchases

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.