Chatham-Kent Health Alliance

Best Times to Visit

About Chatham-Kent Health Alliance

The Emergency Department at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) in Chatham, Ontario operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing urgent and emergency care to residents of Chatham-Kent, South Lambton, and Walpole Island — a community of over 102,000 people. As a 300-bed community hospital, CKHA's ER is staffed by physicians, nurses, and multidisciplinary health professionals equipped to assess and treat life-threatening injuries and severe illness. The facility also houses a Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Centre, offering specialized emergency care and confidential follow-up services.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department, Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Centre, Emergency and Ambulatory Care, Medicine and Critical Care, Diagnostic Imaging, Mental Health and Addictions, Surgical Program, Women and Children's Health, Rehabilitation and Complex Continuing Care, Diabetes Education Centre, Dialysis, Dysphagia Clinic, Chronic Disease Management, Seniors' Health, Language Interpretation Services.

Amenities

• Tim Hortons (1R, Zone B) — open daily 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Subway (Basement, Zone B) — open Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–8:30 p.m., weekends 9:00 a.m.–8:30 p.m.
• Elston Pharmacy (1R, Zone B) — open Mon–Fri 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., closed weekends and holidays
• ATM in the Main Lobby
• Vending machines available 24 hours a day
• Riverside Courtyard outdoor visiting area adjacent to the Emergency Department
• Wheelchair accessible facility
• Language interpretation services available upon request
• 100% smoke-free campus

Other Care Options

Not every health issue needs an ER visit. Find out where to go for care → · 2 walk-in clinics in Chatham →

Pharmacists in Ontario 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

• Park in Lot D (nearest to the Emergency Department entrance) to minimize walking time when arriving for emergency care.
• If you visit CKHA frequently, consider purchasing a multi-day H PASS parking pass at the parking office near the visitor lot to save on parking costs.
• Language interpretation services are available upon request — let registration staff know your preferred language as soon as you arrive.
• For non-emergency medical transportation, contact CareLink (operated by Family Service Kent) in advance to arrange a ride to your appointment.
• Check real-time ER wait times before leaving home so you can plan your arrival and reduce time spent waiting on-site.

What to Bring

• Ontario Health Card (OHIP card)
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of current medications and dosages
• List of known allergies
• Any relevant medical records, test results, or referral letters
• Personal items for comfort (phone charger, change of clothes, snacks for companions)
• Insurance information if applicable (e.g., private health coverage)
• Contact information for your family doctor or specialist

Parking

CKHA offers several designated patient and visitor parking lots at the Chatham campus. Lot D is the closest lot to the Emergency Department. Lot A serves Ambulatory Care, and Lot C is nearest to the main lobby. Accessible parking spots are available in visitor lots. Hourly rates are $3.50 for the first hour, $2.50 for the second hour, and $1.50 for each additional hour, to a daily maximum of $7.50 for 12 hours. Frequent visitors can purchase a multi-day H PASS at the parking office adjacent to the visitor lot. Metered street parking is also available on and around the hospital property.

Getting There

Multiple CK Transit (Ride CK) bus routes serve Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, including Routes C, D, 1, 2, 4, and 5, with Routes 1–4 running every 30 minutes Monday through Saturday. All routes connect at the Downtown Transfer Terminal at 100 Wellington Street West in Chatham. A dedicated CK Transit stop is located at the hospital. Specialized Transit (curb-to-curb accessible shared rides) is available for those unable to use conventional transit due to a disability. CareLink, a non-urgent medical transportation service operated by Family Service Kent, is also available for residents needing help accessing health services in the community.

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 Ontario health data. Actual wait times may vary.

We check our own accuracy. Forecasting two hours ahead, the ERstat estimate was typically off by 33 minutes against what hospitals themselves later posted, compared with 41 minutes for the hospital's own current figure, and was the closer of the two 58% of the time. See the full scorecard, or how we work the number out.

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