Quieter times: No historical wait time data is available for this facility. For non-emergency outpatient services, visiting during mid-morning on weekdays may help you avoid early-morning and end-of-day peaks. Call ahead to 709-777-3300 to confirm availability.
Busier times: No historical wait time data is available. As with most health facilities, late evenings and weekends may see higher demand for urgent psychiatric services. If your situation is not an emergency, scheduling an outpatient appointment during regular weekday hours (Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.) is advisable.
Waterford Hospital at 306 Waterford Bridge Road in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, is the province's long-standing dedicated psychiatric and mental health facility, operated by NL Health Services. The hospital has served adults requiring acute and long-term psychiatric care, including geriatric, forensic, developmental disability, and rehabilitation services, for over 170 years. This is a specialized mental health facility — it does not provide trauma, cardiac, stroke, or pediatric emergency services.
Services & Specialties
Adult inpatient psychiatric care, Long-term mental health care, Geriatric residential and transition services, Forensic psychiatric services, Developmental disability services, Psychiatric rehabilitation, Outpatient and ambulatory mental health services, Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), Art therapy, Blood collection services.
Waterford Hospital is a psychiatric-only facility — if you are experiencing a mental health crisis in St. John's, this is the appropriate destination for psychiatric assessment services.
Outpatient and ambulatory services operate Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. — call NL Health Services at 709-777-3300 to confirm which services are available before your visit.
Free parking is available on site, including accessible spaces — no need to bring change or worry about meters.
Blood collection services are available at this site; confirm hours with NL Health Services before visiting for this purpose.
If you are unsure whether your needs are best served at this location, contact NL Health Services at 709-777-3300 for guidance before travelling to the site.
What to Bring
Government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver's licence or passport)
Provincial health card (NL MCP card)
List of current medications, doses, and prescribing physicians
Name and contact information for your family doctor or psychiatrist
Emergency contact name and phone number
Any relevant medical or psychiatric records if available
Comfortable clothing and personal comfort items for longer stays
Payment method for any incidental costs (vending, etc.)
Parking
Free parking is available on site. The facility features designated accessible parking spaces, ramp access, and accessible entrances and interior spaces.
Getting There
The hospital is located on Waterford Bridge Road, a major road in St. John's. Specific Metrobus route information for this site was not confirmed — patients are advised to check Metrobus NL at metrobus.com for current routes and stops near 306 Waterford Bridge Road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Waterford Hospital treat all types of emergencies?
No. Waterford Hospital is exclusively a psychiatric and mental health facility. It does not provide emergency care for trauma, cardiac events, stroke, or pediatric conditions. For those emergencies, patients should go to a general acute care hospital in St. John's.
Where is psychiatric emergency assessment available in St. John's?
Psychiatric emergency assessment services, including the Psychiatric Assessment Unit (PAU), are available in St. John's. Patients seeking urgent mental health crisis care should contact NL Health Services at 709-777-3300 or proceed to the appropriate psychiatric emergency access point in the city.
What outpatient mental health services are available at the Waterford Bridge Road site?
The site offers outpatient and ambulatory mental health services, blood collection, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), among other specialty programs. Outpatient services operate Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call 709-777-3300 to confirm current availability.
Is parking free at Waterford Hospital?
Yes, free on-site parking is available at 306 Waterford Bridge Road, including designated accessible parking spaces, a ramp, and accessible building entrances.
Who operates Waterford Hospital?
Waterford Hospital is operated by NL Health Services, the single provincial health authority for Newfoundland and Labrador, which was established on April 1, 2023, succeeding the former regional health authorities including Eastern Health.
How long has Waterford Hospital been operating as a psychiatric facility?
The facility opened in December 1854 as the Hospital for Mental Diseases and was renamed Waterford Hospital in 1972. It has served as Newfoundland and Labrador's dedicated psychiatric hospital for over 170 years, making it one of the oldest continuously operating mental health facilities in Canada.
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. Actual wait times may vary.
This hospital does not publish a live wait, so the figure above comes from our model rather than from its own feed. We publish how that model performs where it can be checked, at the hospitals that do publish. See the accuracy scorecard, or how we work the number out.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
Something wrong on this page?
Incorrect hours, wrong address, or outdated information? Let us know.