Greater Niagara General Hospital

Best Times to Visit

About Greater Niagara General

The Jeff Morgan Emergency Department at Niagara Health System's Greater Niagara General Site (5546 Portage Rd) provides 24/7 emergency care to residents of Niagara Falls and the broader Regional Municipality of Niagara. As part of a major multi-site hospital network serving over 450,000 people, this full-service hospital offers comprehensive emergency, surgical, critical care, and mental health services under one roof. Patients requiring urgent or life-threatening care will find a full range of diagnostic and specialist resources on site.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department (Jeff Morgan Emergency Department), Critical Care, Surgical Services, Medicine and Complex Care, Ambulatory and Outpatient Care, Outpatient Mental Health and Addictions, Diagnostic Imaging, Laboratory Services, Cancer Care (Niagara Health network), Cardiac Care (Niagara Health network), Stroke Care (Niagara Health network), Kidney Care (Niagara Health network), Outpatient Clinics.

Amenities

• Tim Hortons on site
• Vending machines (hot and cold beverages and snacks) available 24/7 in the ED waiting area
• Hospital Auxiliary gift shop
• Smoke-free and vape-free campus (including parking lots and vehicles)

Other Care Options

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Tips Before You Go

• When you arrive, a Triage Nurse will assess your condition first — be ready to describe your symptoms clearly and bring a complete list of your current medications.
• Patients with the most urgent needs are seen first regardless of arrival order, so wait times in the ED may vary based on the severity of cases being treated.
• If your condition changes while waiting, notify the Triage Nurse immediately — do not leave the ED without informing staff and having your condition re-evaluated.
• Parking debit cards are not accepted at pay stations — bring a Visa or MasterCard, or plan to pay in advance at the kiosk before heading back to your vehicle.
• If the main parking lot is full, use the overflow lot at the back of the hospital, accessible from North St.
• Ask about the Essential Care Partner (ECP) program if you want a loved one to stay by your bedside to support your care during your visit.

What to Bring

• Provincial health card (OHIP card)
• Government-issued photo ID
• Complete list of current medications and dosages
• Any relevant medical records or test results
• Insurance information for semi-private or private room upgrades
• Phone charger and entertainment for potential wait times
• Credit card or Visa/Mastercard for parking payment
• Warm layers or a blanket for comfort while waiting

Parking

On-site parking is available at the Greater Niagara General Site with signage directing patients and visitors to designated lots. A gated parking system requires you to take a ticket on entry and pay at kiosks inside the hospital before leaving — kiosks accept Visa and MasterCard (debit cards are not accepted). Monthly passes are available at $96.00 per 30 consecutive days at pay stations on site; H PASS packages can be purchased at the Cashier Office during regular business hours. If the main lot is full, overflow parking is accessible from North St in the back lot. Wheelchair-accessible entrances are available.

Getting There

Specific bus routes serving 5546 Portage Rd are not confirmed. Patients are advised to check Niagara Region Transit (NRT) for current route and stop information closest to the hospital.

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.