Health Sciences Centre (HSC) in Winnipeg, Manitoba is the province's largest and busiest hospital, operating both an Adult and a Children's Emergency Department that together see more than 115,000 visits per year — over 330 patients every day. As Manitoba's primary tertiary care and trauma centre, HSC offers the highest level of emergency and specialist care available in the province, including neurosciences, burns, transplants, complex cancer care, and pediatric emergencies. Patients from across Manitoba, northwestern Ontario, and Nunavut are referred here for care that cannot be provided elsewhere, making it the destination for the most critical and complex cases in the region.
Services & Specialties
Adult Emergency Department (24/7), Children's Emergency Department (24/7), Level 1 Trauma Centre, Neurosciences and neurosurgery, Burn care, Organ transplant services, Complex cancer care, Pediatric specialty care (HSC Children's Hospital), Obstetrics and neonatal intensive care (HSC Women's Hospital), Acute stroke unit, Heliport for air ambulance arrivals, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program, Dialysis, Rehabilitation services, Allergy and immunology clinics, Dental services, Gynecology and obstetrics clinics, Interpreter services (English, French, and additional languages).
Amenities
Cafeteria and food services on campus
Retail shops on campus
On-site hotel and lodge for families
Chapel
ATM
Pharmacy
Wi-Fi
Wayfinding signage throughout the campus
Interpreter services
Accessible Handi-Transit drop-off at Sherbrook entrance
Rooftop patio and green spaces at Women's Hospital
Brodie Centre (University of Manitoba Faculty of Health Sciences) adjoined to campus
Use the correct entrance: Adult and Children's Emergency departments are accessed from the William Avenue entrance (700 William Ave), not the Sherbrook Street entrance.
Check the live Adult ED wait time on the WRHA website at wrha.mb.ca before heading in — this can help you plan your arrival and set expectations.
HSC is Manitoba's busiest ER with 330+ patients per day. If your condition is non-urgent and you have alternatives, consider a walk-in clinic to reduce your wait time.
Interpreter services are available in English, French, and many other languages — do not hesitate to request an interpreter at triage if needed.
Do not wear perfume, cologne, or scented products when visiting HSC, as fragrance is not permitted on the campus to protect patients with sensitivities.
If arriving by air ambulance or helicopter, patients are received at HSC's hospital-based heliport atop the Diagnostic Centre of Excellence — the only facility of its kind in Manitoba.
What to Bring
Government-issued photo ID (e.g., Manitoba Health Card / PHIN card)
List of current medications, dosages, and allergies
Provincial health card or insurance information
Any relevant medical records, imaging, or specialist letters
Phone charger or portable battery pack for long waits
Snacks and water for accompanying family members (the ER can involve lengthy waits)
Comfortable clothing and a sweater, as waiting areas can be cool
Contact information for your family doctor or specialist
Parking
HSC offers multiple parking options on and around its 39-acre campus. An underground parkade is accessible from 820 Sherbrook Street, with additional parkades on Emily Street, William Avenue, and Tecumseh Street. Metered street parking is available around the campus at approximately $2 per hour. Short-term metered parking spaces are also located on campus grounds. Handi-Transit drop-off and pick-up is at the Sherbrook Street entrance. The HSC Women's Hospital building (665 William Ave) has its own underground parkade and a covered ground-level drop-off area. For parking inquiries, call 204-787-2715.
Getting There
HSC is well served by Winnipeg Transit. Key nearby stops include Northbound Sherbrook at Bannatyne, Eastbound William at Sherbrook, Eastbound Notre Dame at McGee, and Westbound Tecumseh at Tecumseh Loop. Bus routes serving the campus include routes 12, 19, 23, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 71, 224, 833, 889, D11, D16, and F5. Plan your trip using Winnipeg Transit's Navigo tool at winnipegtransit.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Emergency entrance at Health Sciences Centre?
Both the Adult Emergency and Children's Emergency departments are accessed from the William Avenue entrance at 700 William Avenue, west of Sherbrook Street. Do not use the Sherbrook Street entrance (820 Sherbrook) for emergency visits — that entrance serves the Children's Hospital, Rehab, and Dialysis areas.
Does HSC Winnipeg have a separate Children's Emergency Department?
Yes. HSC operates both an Adult Emergency Department and a dedicated Children's Emergency Department, making it the only hospital in Manitoba with two separate, full-service emergency departments. Both are accessed from the William Avenue entrance and are open 24/7.
Can patients be flown directly to Health Sciences Centre by helicopter?
Yes. HSC has Manitoba's first and only hospital-based heliport, located on top of the HSC Diagnostic Centre of Excellence. It opened in November 2016 and allows critically ill or injured patients transported by air ambulance to arrive directly at the hospital, saving approximately 30 minutes compared to the previous process of landing at Winnipeg's airport and transferring by ground ambulance.
Is Health Sciences Centre a trauma centre?
Yes. HSC is Manitoba's provincial trauma centre and tertiary referral hospital. It provides the highest level of emergency and specialist care in the province, including trauma surgery, neurosurgery, burns, transplants, and complex cancer care. Patients with major trauma or critical illness from across Manitoba, northwestern Ontario, and Nunavut are transported to HSC.
How can I check current wait times at the HSC Adult Emergency Department?
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) provides a live emergency department wait-time tracker for the HSC Adult Emergency Department at wrha.mb.ca. This is the best resource to check current volumes before heading to the ER.
Are interpreter services available at HSC's Emergency Department?
Yes. Health Sciences Centre provides interpreter services in addition to English and French. If you require interpretation in another language, notify staff at triage when you arrive and an interpreter will be arranged for you.
Emergency departments use triage. Patients with more serious conditions are seen first, regardless of arrival time.
Wait times are estimates based on Manitoba 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.
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Incorrect hours, wrong address, or outdated information? Let us know.