Anonymous. No account. Reports leave the room after 24 hours.
Best Times to Visit
Quieter times: No historical wait time data is currently available for this location. In general, mid-morning on weekdays (Tuesday through Thursday) tends to be less busy than weekend afternoons or evenings. If your condition is not immediately life-threatening, visiting during off-peak hours may reduce your wait time.
Busier times: Emergency departments across Canada are typically busiest on Monday mornings, weekend afternoons and evenings, and during holidays. Evenings between 6 p.m. and midnight often see higher volumes as patients arrive after work or after trying other care options. If you have a non-urgent condition, consider whether a walk-in clinic or virtual care service might be appropriate.
The Ottawa Hospital General Campus, located at 501 Smyth Rd in Ottawa, Ontario, operates a 24/7 emergency department staffed by physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals equipped to treat life-threatening injuries and severe illness. As a major academic health centre affiliated with the University of Ottawa and serving over 1.2 million people across Eastern Ontario, the General Campus offers one of the most comprehensive levels of acute care in the region. Patients requiring specialized care in areas such as oncology, ophthalmology, rehabilitation, cardiothoracic surgery, or intensive care will find advanced specialist services available on this campus.
Services & Specialties
24/7 Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Cancer Program (Regional Cancer Centre hub), University of Ottawa Eye Institute, Rehabilitation Centre, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cardiology, Endocrinology, ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat), Dermatology, Allergy & Immunology, Anesthesiology, Audiology, Clinical Pharmacy, Laboratory Services, Medical Imaging, Kidney Research Centre, Emergency Medical Services.
Amenities
Tim Hortons (Critical Care Wing lobby) — open 24/7
Café 501 cafeteria — Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Second Cup — 7 days a week, 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Full-service pharmacy — Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friends' Corner Convenience Store — weekdays 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., weekends/holidays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
La Boutique gift shop
ATMs at multiple locations throughout the campus
Quiet reflection space / chapel in main building near room M1326
Free spoken language interpretation services (including ASL and LSQ)
Personal amplifiers (Pocket Talkers) available on request
Volunteer assistance at main entrances — Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
If you are arriving by OC Transpo, routes 5, 45, 609, and 645 all stop at Ring Road / TOH General Campus — just a 3-minute walk to the ER entrance.
A 24/7 Tim Hortons is available in the Critical Care Wing lobby, making it easy for family members accompanying patients to get food or coffee at any hour.
Use the Flowbird mobile parking app or tap-and-go payment to speed up your parking experience — no need to manage cash at the meters.
Free language interpretation services, including ASL and LSQ sign language, are available throughout the hospital — inform staff of your needs upon arrival.
If you are a patient with ongoing care needs, ask about Epic MyChart to access your health records and communicate with your care team digitally.
Patient Relations can be reached at 613-798-5555 ext. 13377 if you have concerns or feedback about your care experience.
What to Bring
Government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver's licence or passport)
Provincial health card (Ontario Health Card / OHIP card)
List of current medications, including dosages
List of known allergies (medications, foods, environmental)
Name and contact information for your family doctor or specialist
Insurance information if applicable (e.g., out-of-province or travel insurance)
Phone charger or portable battery pack for a long wait
Comfort items such as a book, headphones, or a light snack for extended waits
Parking
Paid parking is available on-site with accessible spaces in all patient and visitor lots. Use your entry ticket to pay at indoor pay machines near main entrances, or pay at the exit gate by credit or debit card. The campus uses a Pay-by-Licence Plate system with tap-and-go payment and the Flowbird mobile parking app. Multi-campus parking passes with in-and-out privileges are available and are transferable between patients and family members. All parking revenues are directed toward medical equipment and patient care improvements.
Getting There
OC Transpo Stop 7234 is located on Ring Road at the General Campus, approximately a 3-minute walk from the Emergency Department entrance. Nearby stops include Ring Road / TOH General Campus, Smyth / Lynda, and Smyth / Roger Guindon, served by routes 5, 45, 609, and 645. Para Transpo and accessible low-floor buses are also available for passengers with mobility needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the address of The Ottawa Hospital General Campus Emergency Department?
The Emergency Department is located at 501 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6. The main campus phone number is 613-798-5555.
Is The Ottawa Hospital General Campus ER open overnight and on holidays?
Yes. The Emergency Department at the General Campus operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and statutory holidays. The Tim Hortons in the Critical Care Wing lobby is also open 24/7 for visitors and family members.
What specialist services are available at the General Campus?
The General Campus is home to a wide range of specialists, including cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, endocrinologists, ENT specialists, dermatologists, allergists, anesthesiologists, and audiologists. It also hosts the University of Ottawa Eye Institute, the Ottawa Hospital Cancer Program, the Rehabilitation Centre, and the Kidney Research Centre.
How do I pay for parking at The Ottawa Hospital General Campus?
Parking is paid by licence plate. You can pay at indoor pay machines near the main entrances using your entry ticket, or pay at the exit gate with a credit or debit card. The Flowbird mobile app also supports tap-and-go and mobile payment. Multi-campus passes with in-and-out privileges are available for frequent visitors.
Are interpretation or accessibility services available at the General Campus ER?
Yes. Free spoken language and sign language (ASL and LSQ) interpretation services are available to all patients and visitors. Personal amplifiers (Pocket Talkers) are also available on request. The campus features accessible parking, entrances, washrooms, wheelchairs, and elevators throughout.
Is The Ottawa Hospital General Campus a teaching hospital?
Yes. The Ottawa Hospital is affiliated with the University of Ottawa and is one of Canada's largest academic health centres. It has a distinguished history of medical firsts, including Canada's first artificial heart implantation in 1986 and the first unrelated-donor bone marrow transplant in 1988.
Emergency departments use triage. Patients with more serious conditions are seen first, regardless of arrival time.
Wait times are ERstat’s estimates, built from what hospitals publish, or from our model where a hospital publishes no wait. They are not the hospital’s own figures. Actual waits may vary.
This hospital does not publish a live wait, so the figure above comes from our model rather than from its own feed. We publish how that model performs where it can be checked, at the hospitals that do publish. See the accuracy scorecard, or how we work the number out.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
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Incorrect hours, wrong address, or outdated information? Let us know.