Strait Richmond Hospital

Best Times to Visit

Quieter times: No historical wait time data is currently available for this location. As a general guide, mid-morning to early afternoon on weekdays tends to be less busy at smaller community ERs. If your situation is not immediately life-threatening, arriving earlier in the day may result in shorter waits.

Busier times: No historical data is available to identify peak hours at Strait Richmond Hospital specifically. Generally, weekend evenings and late nights can see higher volumes at rural ERs. Always call ahead or check the NS Health website if you are unsure whether the ER is the right care setting for your needs.

About Strait Richmond

Strait Richmond Hospital in Cleveland, Nova Scotia is a community hospital serving residents of Richmond County and the southern portion of Inverness County, operating a 24/7 emergency department with 15 inpatient medical beds. The facility provides core emergency and diagnostic services including laboratory testing, X-ray, and EKG, along with a range of visiting specialist clinics and outreach programs tailored to rural community needs. Patients requiring advanced trauma, cardiac, or stroke intervention may be transferred to a larger regional centre, making this ER best suited for urgent and emergent care within a well-supported community hospital setting.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department, Laboratory services, X-ray (diagnostic imaging), Electrocardiogram (EKG), Physiotherapy, Diabetes Education Centre, Nutrition and dietetic counselling, Social work, Satellite hemodialysis unit, Visiting general surgery clinic, Visiting orthopedics clinic, Visiting internal medicine clinic, Visiting ophthalmology clinic, Visiting rheumatology clinic, Visiting pediatrics clinic, Visiting palliative care clinic, Visiting vascular surgery clinic, Community Mental Health and Addictions services, Blood collection, Foot care outreach, Well Men/Women's Clinics, Heart to Heart program, Seniors advisory committee.

Amenities

• WiFi available in all inpatient care areas and the front entrance
• Private and semi-private room accommodations for admitted patients
• Change machine near registration desk
• Visitor hours daily 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. (rest period 1:30–2:30 p.m.)

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 you arrive after 9 p.m., do not use the main entrance — proceed to the emergency door at the end of the hospital building.
• Check in at registration as soon as you arrive so staff can begin your assessment promptly.
• Have $2 in correct change ready for the parking lot exit; a change machine is available inside near registration if needed.
• For non-emergency mental health or addiction support, call the 24/7 mobile crisis line at 1-888-429-8167 before visiting the ER.
• Check the Nova Scotia Health website for any service updates before travelling, as this is a rural facility and conditions can vary.

What to Bring

• Nova Scotia Health Card (provincial health card)
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of current medications and dosages
• Any relevant medical records or test results
• Alberta Health Card or out-of-province insurance information if applicable
• Correct change or small bills for parking ($2 exit fee)
• Phone charger or personal entertainment for potential wait times
• Comfort items such as a jacket or snack, especially for longer visits

Parking

A $2 parking fee is charged upon exiting the lot — have correct change ready before leaving. Metered parking is also available in front of the hospital, and a change machine is located inside near the registration desk. Weekly and monthly parking rates are available for longer-term needs.

Getting There

Strait Area Transit (SAT) serves the Strait region including stops at Strait Richmond Hospital, with multiple weekday trips connecting St. Peter's and surrounding areas in Richmond and Inverness Counties and the Town of Port Hawkesbury. The service is fully accessible and offers door-to-door pickup; one-way fares within the county are $9.00. Rides must be booked at least one business day in advance.

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.