Gander, NL · Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Last updated: recently · View all Newfoundland & Labrador hospitals →
James Paton Memorial Regional Health Centre is one of only two acute care referral centres serving the entire Central Health region of Newfoundland, located on the Trans-Canada Highway in Gander, NL. The emergency department operates with 24-hour on-site physician coverage and serves as the primary ER for a vast rural catchment area spanning nearly 12,000 square kilometres and approximately 89 communities — from Glenwood to Charlottetown and north through Fogo Island and Twillingate. Patients requiring specialist care across central Newfoundland are routinely referred here, making it the region's most comprehensive acute care facility.
Free parking is available on site. Accessible parking spaces, ramps, and accessible entrances are provided. Designated permit parking is reserved for specific patient groups such as cancer clinic and dialysis patients.
Gander does not have public transit service. Patients should plan to arrive by personal vehicle or taxi. Busy Bee Taxi can be reached at 709-256-1444 and serves the hospital.
Early mornings on weekdays (before 10 a.m.) tend to be quieter at most rural regional hospitals. If your concern is urgent but not life-threatening, arriving earlier in the day on a weekday may result in shorter waits.
Friday and Saturday evenings are typically the busiest times at emergency departments across Canada, and as a regional referral centre, James Paton can see elevated volumes on weekends and during adverse weather when surrounding communities face limited access to other care.
Emergency departments use triage — patients with more serious conditions are seen first, regardless of arrival time.
Wait times are estimates based on Newfoundland & Labrador 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.