Health Sciences Centre - Adult

About Health Sciences Centre - Adult

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

Parking & Transit

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.

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.

Best Times to Visit

Quieter times: No historical wait-time data is available for this facility. Generally, emergency department volumes tend to be lower in the early morning hours (between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.) on weekdays. For real-time wait information at HSC's Adult Emergency Department, check the WRHA live tracker at wrha.mb.ca.

Busier times: As Manitoba's largest and busiest ER, HSC experiences high volumes throughout the day and evening. Evenings and weekends are typically the busiest periods at most urban emergency departments. Check the live WRHA wait-time tool at wrha.mb.ca for current conditions before you arrive.

Tips Before You Go

• 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

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 Manitoba health data using historical volumes, current patient counts, and staffing. Actual wait times may vary.

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