St Catharines ER Wait Times

1 emergency department · ON · Live as of 1:33 p.m. EDT

Shortest in St Catharines if you leave now

Avg 4h 53m · 36 waiting

In an emergency, call 911.

Niagara Health System - St. Catharines

24/7 · 1200 Fourth Avenue

4h 53m

St Catharines ER Wait Forecast

Predicted average ER wait across St Catharines over the next 12 hours, based on ERstat’s model. Use it to time a non-urgent visit for a quieter window.

St Catharines ER Forecast — Next 12 Hours

4h53
5pm
5h6
6pm
5h30
7pm
5h52
8pm
6h1
9pm
6h4
10pm
6h2
11pm
6h
12am
6h1
1am
6h13
2am
6h22
3am
6h27
4am

Projected from typical wait patterns across St Catharines ERs and the current average wait.

Best Time to Visit an ER in St Catharines

Based on historical wait patterns across St Catharines emergency departments, here is when they tend to be quietest and busiest. Waits are typically longest in the early morning and shortest around midday.

Shortest wait Fridays 11am avg ~3h
Longest wait Wednesdays 2am avg ~7h 24m

Nearby ERs Outside St Catharines

Hamilton Health Sciences - Mcmaster

Hamilton · 48 km away

34m

Port Colborne General Hospital

Port Colborne · 30 km away

47m

Hamilton General Hospital

Hamilton · 48 km away

53m

Douglas Memorial Hospital

Fort Erie · 39 km away

1h 4m

Halton Healthcare - Milton District Hospital

Milton · 62 km away

1h 5m

Emergency Rooms in St Catharines

St Catharines has 1 emergency department — 1 open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 1 of 1 currently has live wait time data. Right now, 36 people are waiting across St Catharines emergency departments.

Wait time data for St Catharines is sourced from individual hospital websites and updates as frequently as every 15–30 minutes. ERstat displays the estimated time from triage registration to being seen by a physician.

All emergency departments in St Catharines use the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) to prioritize patients. Patients with more serious conditions are always seen first, regardless of arrival time or displayed wait. A shorter posted wait does not guarantee a shorter visit — it depends on the severity of your condition relative to other patients in the department.

Tips for Visiting an ER in St Catharines

Check wait times on this page before leaving. ERstat updates every 5 minutes and shows all St Catharines ERs sorted from shortest to longest wait. Each hospital page includes a 12-hour forecast chart and a “Best Time to Visit” pattern based on historical data.

If your condition is not life-threatening, consider whether a walk-in clinic, urgent care centre, or pharmacist could help instead. Ontario pharmacists can assess and prescribe for many common conditions with no appointment needed. See what your pharmacist can treat →

Not sure if you need the ER? Call 811 to speak with a registered nurse. Free, confidential, available 24/7.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency — chest pain, difficulty breathing, stroke symptoms, severe bleeding, or loss of consciousness — call 911 immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the shortest ER wait time in St Catharines right now?
The shortest ER wait time in St Catharines right now is at Niagara Health System - St. Catharines with an estimated wait of 4h 51m. Wait times update every 15 minutes on ERstat.
How many emergency departments are in St Catharines?
St Catharines has 1 emergency department, 1 of which operates 24/7. 1 currently has live wait time data available on ERstat.
How can I check ER wait times in St Catharines?
ERstat tracks live ER wait times for all St Catharines hospitals using data from individual hospital websites. Visit erstat.ca or check this page for current wait times, sorted from shortest to longest. Each hospital page includes a 12-hour forecast and a best time to visit pattern based on historical data.
What is the average ER wait time in St Catharines?
Right now the shortest ER wait in St Catharines is 4h 51m at Niagara Health System - St. Catharines. The average across St Catharines's reporting emergency departments is about 4h 53m, but waits vary widely — checking the live board and choosing the shortest can save hours. The average shifts through the day; overnight tends to run longer than midday.
Should I go to the ER with the shortest wait time?
Not necessarily. All Canadian emergency departments use triage — patients with more serious conditions are seen first regardless of arrival time. A hospital with a longer posted wait may still see you faster if your condition is urgent. For non-emergencies, consider a walk-in clinic, urgent care, or pharmacist visit instead.
Where does ERstat get St Catharines ER wait time data?
ERstat sources St Catharines wait time data from individual hospital websites. Data updates as frequently as every 15–30 minutes.
What if all St Catharines ERs have long wait times?
ERstat shows nearby emergency departments outside St Catharines with current wait times and driving distance. You can also call 811 to speak with a registered nurse who can help you decide where to go. For non-emergency conditions, a pharmacist or walk-in clinic may be able to help with no wait.

Not an emergency? 7 walk-in clinics in St Catharines — hours & walk-in status

View all Ontario ER wait times

How does Ontario grade on ER data transparency?

Urgent Care in Ontario

Urgent care treats the broken wrists, infections and stitches an emergency department would make you wait behind more serious cases for. Ontario publishes its urgent care waits, and they are not comparable to an ER wait.

More Cities in Ontario

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Hospital administrator? Manage your ER listing on ERstat.

Not sure you need the ER? · What your pharmacist can treat

Hospital wait times across Canada →