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Markdale Hospital, operated by Brightshores Health System, is a modern 78,000 sq ft rural facility located at 220 Toronto St S in Markdale, Ontario, serving over 20,000 residents across Grey Highlands, Southgate, West Grey, and surrounding communities. The 24/7 Emergency Department features four treatment areas and two ambulance bays, providing walk-in emergency care without an appointment. As a community hospital, it handles a broad range of urgent and emergent conditions; patients requiring advanced specialty care such as cardiac, trauma, or stroke intervention may be transferred to Brightshores Owen Sound Regional Hospital.
Services & Specialties
24/7 Emergency Department, Acute Inpatient Medical Care (14 beds), Ambulatory Care, Diagnostic Imaging, Laboratory Services, Outpatient Physiotherapy, Endoscopy / Endoscopic Procedures, Diabetes Education Program, Palliative Care, Skin Cancer Clinic (weekly), Visiting Orthopedic Specialist Consults, Visiting General Surgical Consults, Clinical Nutrition Services, Spiritual Care, Diabetes Grey Bruce Support Services.
Amenities
On-site café
Spiritual Care services
Wheelchair/barrier-free access via Emergency Room entrance
The Markdale ER is walk-in accessible — no referral or appointment is needed for emergency care.
For non-emergency services such as physiotherapy, specialist consults, or the Diabetes Education Program, a medical referral and appointment are required.
If you require advanced cardiac, stroke, or trauma care, you may be stabilized at Markdale and transferred to Brightshores Owen Sound Regional Hospital — factor this into travel planning if you live far from Owen Sound.
Wheelchair users and patients with mobility needs should use the Emergency Room entrance, which provides full barrier-free access to the facility.
Most services at Markdale Hospital are covered by OHIP — bring your Ontario health card to avoid delays at registration.
If you need communication assistance due to a hearing barrier, TTY/TDD services are available — notify staff upon arrival.
What to Bring
Ontario Health Card (OHIP card)
Government-issued photo ID
List of current medications and dosages
List of known allergies
Provincial health benefits or private insurance information
Emergency contact name and phone number
Any relevant medical records, imaging, or recent test results
Personal comfort items for potential wait times (water, snack, phone charger)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Markdale Hospital's emergency department open 24 hours?
Yes. The Markdale Hospital Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays. No appointment is needed — walk-in access is available for all emergency patients.
What hospital system operates Markdale Hospital?
Markdale Hospital is operated by Brightshores Health System (formerly known as Grey Bruce Health Services), which runs six hospitals across the Grey Bruce region in Ontario, including the larger Regional Hospital in Owen Sound.
Is Markdale Hospital a new building?
Yes. The current Markdale Hospital is a purpose-built, 78,000 sq ft facility that opened on September 24, 2023, at a cost of $70 million. It replaced the original Centre-Grey General Hospital that had operated since 1958. The Ontario government contributed $53 million toward the project.
Does Markdale Hospital have specialist or specialty services?
Yes, to a degree. Markdale offers visiting orthopedic and general surgical specialist consults, a weekly Skin Cancer Clinic, endoscopy services, a Diabetes Education Program, and clinical nutrition support. The ambulatory care department at Markdale is the second largest in the Brightshores system. However, advanced specialties such as cardiac care, trauma, and stroke treatment are not available on-site — patients requiring these services are referred to Brightshores Owen Sound Regional Hospital.
Is there parking at Markdale Hospital's emergency department?
Yes. The hospital has on-site parking for approximately 100 vehicles, with accessible spaces located near the Emergency Department entrance. The facility also uniquely provides three horse-and-buggy spaces. Contact the hospital at 519-986-3040 to confirm current parking costs.
Who does Markdale Hospital serve?
Markdale Hospital primarily serves residents of Grey Highlands, Southgate, West Grey, Chatsworth, and surrounding rural villages — a catchment population of over 20,000 people. It is designed as a full-service community hospital to allow local residents to access core healthcare services without travelling to larger centres.