St. Thomas - Elgin General Hospital

Best Times to Visit

Quieter times: No historical wait time data is currently available for this location. Generally, mid-morning on weekdays (after the overnight rush but before noon) and early weekday afternoons tend to be quieter periods at most emergency departments. Visiting during off-peak hours can help reduce your wait.

Busier times: No historical data is available to identify specific peak periods at STEGH. As a general guide, Monday mornings, Friday evenings, weekends, and holidays typically see higher volumes at most ERs. Late evenings can also be busy. If your condition is not life-threatening, consider these patterns when timing your visit.

About St. Thomas - Elgin General Hospital

St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital (STEGH) operates a full-service, 24/7 Emergency Department serving the City of St. Thomas and all seven municipalities within Elgin County, including three local First Nations communities. Located on the ground floor of the North Building at 189 Elm St, the ED features a three-zone triage system and is recognized as one of Ontario's best-performing hospitals for emergency department wait times. STEGH is a 179-bed accredited facility offering a broad spectrum of care including surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics, mental health, and regional chemotherapy and stroke services — making it the primary acute care destination for the greater Elgin region.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Obstetrics and Maternal-Child Care, Pediatrics, Mental Health (Inpatient and Outpatient), Anesthesia, Cardiorespiratory Services, Diagnostic Imaging, Chemotherapy (Regional Satellite), Stroke Unit (Regional Satellite), Palliative Care, Rehabilitation and Continuing Care, Sleep Studies, Family Medicine, Surgical Program.

Amenities

• Atrium Café: Ground Floor, South Building — open Mon–Fri 7:30 AM–4:00 PM, Sat–Sun 8:30 AM–1:00 PM; closed statutory holidays
• On-site inpatient pharmacy
• Accessible washrooms on ground and first floors
• TTY line available at 519-631-7789 for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and speech-impaired patients
• Interpreter services available upon request
• Wheelchair-accessible entrances (East and South) with automatic or push-button doors
• Patient Experience Office (ext. 2184) for concerns or feedback

Other Care Options

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Tips Before You Go

• Upon arrival at the ED, a triage nurse will assess you and assign you to one of three care zones — be prepared to clearly describe your symptoms and their onset.
• If you arrive by ambulance and are well enough to sit up, STEGH's Fit2Sit program (in partnership with Medavie EMS) may have you wait in a chair in the waiting area rather than on a stretcher.
• OHIP covers most Emergency Department services — bring your health card to avoid delays at registration.
• Interpreter services are available at no charge — let the triage nurse know immediately if you require language assistance.
• STEGH is a fully smoke-free facility including all buildings, parking lots, grounds, and vehicles on the property — plan accordingly for extended visits.
• For non-emergency concerns or feedback during your visit, contact the Patient Experience Office at 519-631-2030, ext. 2184.

What to Bring

• Ontario health card (OHIP) or other provincial health insurance card
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of current medications, dosages, and allergies
• Any relevant medical records, test results, or referral documents
• Provincial drug benefit card or private insurance information
• Credit or debit card for parking payment
• Comfortable clothing and a blanket or light layer (ER waiting areas can be cool)
• Phone charger or portable battery, and entertainment for potential wait times

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.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.