Royal Inland Hospital

Best Times to Visit

Quieter times: No historical wait-time data is available for this facility. Generally, weekday mornings between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. tend to be quieter at busy Canadian emergency departments. If your condition is not life-threatening, consider calling HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 first to determine the most appropriate level of care.

Busier times: No historical wait data is available for Royal Inland Hospital's ED. As with most large urban emergency departments, evenings, weekends, and holidays typically see higher volumes. With over 70,000 annual visits, the department is consistently busy — if your condition is urgent but not life-threatening, ask HealthLink BC (8-1-1) whether the Kamloops Urgent Primary Care Centre (UPCC) at the Clinical Services Building may be more appropriate.

About Royal Inland Hospital

Royal Inland Hospital's Teck Emergency Department in Kamloops, BC is a 24/7 tertiary-level emergency and trauma centre — the only such facility in the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap region, serving a catchment area of over 225,000 British Columbians. With more than 70,000 patient visits annually, 11 overlapping physician shifts daily, and a dedicated Trauma Team Leader on duty every day, this is the highest level of emergency care available in BC's southern interior. Patients requiring advanced specialty services such as neurology, cardiology, surgery, pediatrics, NICU, ICU, or complex trauma should come here rather than a smaller urgent care facility.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency and trauma care, Tertiary-level trauma response, Cardiology, General and specialty surgery, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Maternity, labour and delivery, Pediatrics and child/adolescent mental health, Neurology, Internal medicine, Mental health and substance-use inpatient care, Ambulatory psychiatry and elderly mental health, Respiratory therapy, Diagnostic imaging and laboratory services, Rooftop helipad for air transport, Six ambulance stretcher bays, Minor treatment area with 14 exam rooms and 14 treatment chairs.

Amenities

• Spiritual health services (clinically trained, all faiths welcome)
• Spoken language interpreter services (available by phone)
• ATM on site (confirm current location with hospital)
• Fully digital health records (first fully digital hospital in Interior Health)
• Visiting open 24/7 via main Gaglardi Tower entrance; sign in with Security after 8 p.m.
• Kamloops Urgent Primary Care and Learning Centre (UPCC) in the Clinical Services Building

Other Care Options

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Tips Before You Go

• The Teck Emergency Department entrance is located at the roundabout near the old coffee shop — short-term parking for the ED is on the right side of the drive leading to this entrance.
• If parking in the CSB Parkade, take the elevator to Level 2 and use the pedestrian bridge to reach the main hospital building.
• After 8 p.m., all visitors must use the main Gaglardi Tower entrance and sign in with Security — plan for this if accompanying a patient.
• For non-emergency health questions, call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 (available 24/7) to speak with a nurse before deciding whether to visit the ER.
• RIH is a regional referral centre — patients transferred from smaller Interior Health facilities or arriving by air land at the rooftop helipad in the Gaglardi Tower. If self-presenting with a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ED roundabout entrance.

What to Bring

• BC Services Card or provincial health card (CareCard)
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of current medications, dosages, and allergies
• Name and contact information for your family doctor or specialist
• Any relevant medical records, test results, or imaging if available
• Emergency contact's name and phone number
• Comfortable clothing and a warm layer (hospitals can be cold)
• Snacks, water, and entertainment for potential wait times

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.