Guysborough Memorial Hospital

Best Times to Visit

Quieter times: No historical wait time data is available for this facility. As a small rural ED, mornings on weekdays tend to be less congested than evenings and weekends. If your concern is urgent but not an emergency, consider using the virtual urgent care option available through the ED triage process.

Busier times: No historical wait time data is available. Evening hours and weekends typically see higher ED volumes at rural hospitals. Avoid arriving during peak evening hours (after 5 p.m.) for non-urgent concerns when possible, or explore virtual urgent care as an alternative.

About Guysborough Memorial

Guysborough Memorial Hospital is a 10-bed rural community hospital located at 10560 Route 16 in Guysborough, Nova Scotia, serving the residents of Guysborough County with 24/7 emergency care. As part of Nova Scotia Health's Eastern Zone, the ED provides core emergency services supported by on-site laboratory, X-ray, and EKG diagnostics, with transfer pathways in place for higher-level trauma, cardiac, or stroke intervention at regional centres. Virtual urgent care is also available through the ED for patients over five years old with urgent but non-life-threatening concerns.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department, Virtual urgent care (ages 5+, non-life-threatening concerns), Laboratory services (Mon–Fri, 7:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.), X-ray and diagnostic imaging, EKG / electrocardiogram, Diabetes Education Centre, Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy, Mental health and addictions services (outpatient), Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) services, Palliative care, Social work, Foot care clinic, Public health and continuing care services, Visiting pediatrics clinic, Visiting surgical consult clinic, Blood collection (walk-in only), 50-bed long-term care facility (attached).

Amenities

• Free public WiFi
• Free TV and cable in all inpatient rooms
• Bedside phone service in all inpatient rooms (fee applies)
• Daily inpatient meals (breakfast ~8:30 a.m., supper ~5:00 p.m.)
• Spiritual and religious care (full-time and volunteer chaplains available)
• Private and semi-private inpatient room options
• Wheelchair accessible facility
• Baby Friendly and Ostomy Friendly designated facility

Other Care Options

Not every health issue needs an ER visit. Find out where to go for care →

Pharmacists in Nova Scotia 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

• If your condition is urgent but not life-threatening and you are over age 5, ask the triage nurse about virtual urgent care — the hospital provides a quiet space and technology for a virtual physician appointment right at the ED.
• Blood collection is walk-in only and cannot be booked in advance; the lab operates Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Specialist services such as pediatrics and surgical consults are only available through scheduled visiting clinics — call ahead at 902-533-3702 to confirm clinic dates if your visit is non-emergency.
• Serious emergencies involving trauma, cardiac events, or stroke may require transfer to a regional hospital — the ED team will coordinate this if needed, so do not delay calling 911 for life-threatening situations.
• Visitor hours are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily — plan family support visits within these windows to avoid disruption to care.

What to Bring

• Nova Scotia Health Card (provincial health card)
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of current medications, dosages, and allergies
• Any relevant medical records, test results, or referral letters
• Contact information for your family doctor or specialist
• Personal comfort items for potential wait times (water bottle, snack, warm layer)
• Phone or tablet charger (free WiFi is available)
• Payment method for optional services such as bedside phone

Parking

Free parking is available at Guysborough Memorial Hospital. The main parking lot is located in front of the hospital, with additional spaces along the side of the facility. The hospital is wheelchair accessible.

Getting There

Guysborough is a rural community with no public transit serving the hospital. Patients are strongly advised to arrange personal transportation in advance. For transport assistance options, contact Nova Scotia's 811 health line.

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 Nova Scotia 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.