The Emergency Department at Lakeridge Health Ajax Pickering Hospital in Ajax, Ontario operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and sees more than 75,000 patient visits annually, making it one of Durham Region's busiest community ERs. The department treats life-threatening injuries and severe illness, staffed by emergency physicians, nurses, crisis and social workers, consultants, and support personnel. Located at 580 Harwood Ave S, the hospital serves residents of Ajax, Pickering, and the surrounding eastern Greater Toronto Area communities.
Services & Specialties
24/7 Emergency Department, Inpatient and outpatient surgery, Critical care / ICU, Cardiac care and regional cardiac services, Women's and children's health, Obstetrics and labour & delivery, Paediatrics, Inpatient mental health (22-bed unit), Outpatient mental health services, Cancer care, Diagnostic imaging, Laboratory services, Diabetes education, The Shoulder Centre, Continuing care and transitional restorative care, Dialysis, Pharmacy, Heliport access for critical transfers.
Amenities
On-site pharmacy
Laboratory services
Diagnostic imaging
WiFi throughout the facility
Wheelchair accessible building and entrances
Taxi phone at main entrance with direct taxi service access
EV charging stations
Adjacent long-term care facility (Lakeridge Gardens)
Check real-time ER wait times on this page before heading in — the Ajax Pickering ED sees over 75,000 visits per year and waits can vary significantly by time of day.
If you are arriving by GO Train, the Ajax GO Station on the Lakeshore East line is nearby — pair with Durham Region Transit bus routes 216 or 224 for a direct connection to the hospital.
Take note of your vehicle's license plate before entering the parking garage — the ticketless system requires you to enter your plate at the payment kiosk to pay and exit.
If you or a family member visits the hospital frequently for treatment, ask about discounted multi-day parking packages available at the Parking Pay Stations to reduce costs.
For non-emergency concerns — such as minor cuts, cold and flu symptoms, or minor infections — consider whether a walk-in clinic in Ajax or Pickering could be more appropriate, helping keep the ER available for critical cases.
What to Bring
Provincial health card (Ontario OHIP card)
Government-issued photo ID
List of current medications, dosages, and allergies
Any relevant medical records, imaging, or referral letters
Insurance information (for services not covered by OHIP)
Phone charger or portable battery pack for long waits
Snacks and water for accompanying family members
A comfort item or book to pass time during triage and waiting
Parking
Ajax Pickering Hospital has a covered 5-level parking garage with 532 spots serving visitors, patients, and staff. The garage uses a ticketless, license-plate-based system. Payment is accepted via tap debit/credit card, cash, Google Pay, and Apple Pay at full pay stations; exit gates accept debit/credit card, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. Surface lots are available for over-height vehicles. Discounted multi-day parking packages for frequent visitors, patients, and caregivers can be purchased at Parking Pay Stations in line with Ontario Ministry of Health affordability requirements. EV charging stations are on-site at $2/hour for the first four hours and $4/hour thereafter. The facility is fully accessible.
Getting There
The hospital is served by Durham Region Transit bus routes 216, 224, 227, and 917, with stops at Harwood Northbound @ Emperor and Bayly Eastbound/Westbound @ Harwood/Commercial. The Ajax GO Train Station (Lakeshore East line) is nearby, making the hospital accessible from across the Greater Toronto Area by transit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Lakeridge Health Ajax Pickering Hospital ER have a helipad?
Yes. The hospital has a ground-level heliport located to the southwest of the building near the wooded area. Patients arriving by air ambulance are transferred by ground ambulance from the heliport into the Emergency Department.
How busy is the Ajax Pickering Hospital Emergency Department?
Very busy. The ED was originally designed for 20,000 visits per year but now sees more than 75,000 annual visits, making it one of the highest-volume community ERs in Durham Region. Checking wait times before you visit is strongly recommended.
Does Ajax Pickering Hospital have inpatient mental health services?
Yes. In Fall 2019, Lakeridge Health opened a dedicated 22-bed inpatient mental health unit at Ajax Pickering Hospital to address growing demand for mental health care in Durham Region. Outpatient mental health services and crisis/social workers in the ED are also available.
Is parking free at Ajax Pickering Hospital?
Parking is not free, but discounted multi-day parking packages are available for patients, family members, and caregivers who visit frequently. These packages can be purchased at the Parking Pay Stations and align with Ontario Ministry of Health affordability requirements.
What bus routes serve Lakeridge Health Ajax Pickering Hospital?
Durham Region Transit routes 216, 224, 227, and 917 serve the hospital. The closest stops are at Harwood Northbound @ Emperor and Bayly Eastbound/Westbound @ Harwood/Commercial. The Ajax GO Train Station on the Lakeshore East line also provides regional access.
What specialties are available at Ajax Pickering Hospital beyond emergency care?
Ajax Pickering Hospital is a full-service community hospital offering cardiac care, obstetrics, paediatrics, cancer care, The Shoulder Centre, inpatient and outpatient surgery, diagnostic imaging, dialysis, diabetes education, mental health services, and laboratory services, among others.
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.
Something wrong on this page?
Incorrect hours, wrong address, or outdated information? Let us know.