Saanich Peninsula Hospital

Best Times to Visit

About Saanich Peninsula Hospital

Saanich Peninsula Hospital is a 65-bed community hospital in Saanichton, BC, operated by Island Health and serving over 87,000 residents across Brentwood Bay, Highlands, North Saanich, Saanich, Saanichton, and Sidney. The Emergency Department handles life-threatening and serious health concerns, operating on a triage system that prioritizes patients by urgency. As a community-level facility, it offers emergency care, surgical services, advanced diagnostics, and intensive care — with Royal Jubilee Hospital and Victoria General Hospital in Victoria available for after-hours emergencies.

Services & Specialties

Emergency care (triage-based), Surgical services (3 Operating Rooms), Anesthesiology, Intensive care, Computed tomography (CT), Fluoroscopy, Radiology (X-ray), Ultrasound, Bone mineral density testing, Laboratory services, Pulmonary rehabilitation, Acute care, Convalescent and rehabilitative care, Long-term and palliative care, Specialty outpatient clinics, Indigenous liaison and culturally safe care services.

Amenities

• Free WiFi — connect to 'IslandHealthGuestWiFi' and follow on-screen instructions
• Cafeteria — open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; closed weekends and statutory holidays
• On-site pharmacy — located at 2166 Mount Newton Cross Road; pharmacy manager reachable at 250-652-7558
• Prayer room and chaplain services available
• Pastoral and spiritual care, including Elder support for Indigenous patients
• 24-hour security provided by Island Health's Securicare service
• Wheelchair accessible facility with basic wheelchairs and mobility aids provided
• Smoke-free and vape-free campus — no smoking permitted on any Island Health property

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

• The Saanich Peninsula Hospital ED operates 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. only — for emergencies outside these hours, go directly to Royal Jubilee Hospital or Victoria General Hospital in Victoria.
• Patients are seen by triage priority, not arrival order — if your condition is not urgent, expect longer waits and consider a same-day or urgent care clinic instead.
• The hospital is a single-level, rural layout — easy to navigate for patients with mobility concerns. Wheelchair assistance is available on-site.
• The cafeteria is only open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., so bring snacks and water if you anticipate a long wait, especially on evenings or weekends.
• If you are an Indigenous patient or family member, Indigenous liaison services are available on-site to help you access culturally safe care, navigate non-insured health benefits, and connect with community resources.

What to Bring

• Government-issued photo ID (e.g., BC driver's licence or passport)
• BC Services Card or provincial health card
• List of current medications including dosages
• List of known allergies and prior medical conditions
• Any relevant medical documents, referral letters, or recent test results
• Payment method for parking (coins or credit card — no debit accepted)
• Snacks, water, and something to pass the time during potential waits
• A support person or family member, especially for complex or serious visits

Parking

Paid surface lot with parking machines and street meters. Pay stations accept coins or credit card — no debit or Visa debit, and no change is given. A mobile app is available via Apple App Store and Google Play. Weekly permits are available. Family Caregiver permits (one per family, sharable) are available at no charge for families of long-term care residents. Financial Hardship permits may be available on a case-by-case basis. The facility is fully wheelchair accessible.

Getting There

BC Transit Route #81 serves the hospital. Board Route #81 and exit at Mt. Newton — stop at the driveway entrance or front door. Check the BC Transit schedule for times when drop-off is at the front door.

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.

We check our own accuracy. Forecasting two hours ahead, the ERstat estimate was typically off by 33 minutes against what hospitals themselves later posted, compared with 41 minutes for the hospital's own current figure, and was the closer of the two 58% of the time. See the full scorecard, or how we work the number out.

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