Lakeridge Health - Oshawa

Best Times to Visit

About Lakeridge Health Oshawa

Lakeridge Health – Oshawa, located at 1 Hospital Court in Oshawa, Ontario, is the largest hospital in Durham Region and the most clinically advanced site within the Lakeridge Health network. The Emergency Department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing high-acuity care for life-threatening injuries and serious illness without requiring a referral — most services are covered by OHIP. As a regional leader, the hospital supports specialist care across cardiac, stroke, cancer, surgical, and mental health services, serving the broader Durham Region community.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department, Cardiac care, Stroke prevention and treatment, Durham Regional Cancer Centre (oncology), Dialysis and kidney care, Inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment, Palliative care, Surgery (inpatient and outpatient), Women's and children's health, Critical care, Inpatient rehabilitation, Specialist physician services.

Amenities

• Subway restaurant on-site
• Coffee kiosk on-site
• Cafeteria (located beside the north parking entrance)
• Online ED Wait Times Tracker at lh.ca
• EV charging stations in parking area

Other Care Options

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Tips Before You Go

• Check Lakeridge Health's online ED Wait Times Tracker at lh.ca before leaving home to see approximate physician wait times at the Oshawa ED.
• Use the dedicated Emergency Room surface lot at 1 Hospital Court for the most direct access to the ED entrance.
• Bring your valid OHIP card — most emergency services are covered, and having it ready will speed up your registration.
• The ED uses a triage-first model, so the most critically ill patients are seen first. If your condition allows, checking wait times online can help you plan your arrival.
• If you rely on public transit, DRT buses on Simcoe Street N. stop within a 4-minute walk — check DRT schedules in advance, especially for late-night visits.

What to Bring

• Valid Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of current medications, doses, and allergies
• Provincial health card or private insurance information
• Personal comfort items for potential wait times (water bottle, snack, charger)
• Previous relevant medical records or test results if available
• Emergency contact name and phone number
• Payment method for parking fees

Parking

A dedicated Emergency Room surface lot is located directly at 1 Hospital Court. A 6-level parking garage (with elevators) and additional surface lots are available at 3, 14, and 45 Hospital Court. Surface lots accommodate over-height vehicles. EV charging stations are available at $2/hour for the first four hours and $4/hour after that. Multi-day parking packages can be purchased at Parking Pay Stations. For rate details, contact the Parking Office at parking@lh.ca or (905) 576-8711 ext. 15184.

Getting There

The hospital is served by Durham Region Transit (DRT) bus routes 52, 56, and 901. The nearest stop — Simcoe St. N. @ Parkwood Crt. — is approximately a 4-minute walk from the Emergency Department. Oshawa GO Station is also a short distance away for GO Train access.

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.