HÔPITAL DE LA CITÉ-DE-LA-SANTÉ

Best Times to Visit

About HÔPITAL DE LA CITÉ-DE-LA-SANTÉ

Hôpital de la Cité-de-la-Santé is Laval's major regional hospital, operating a 24/7 emergency department at 1755 Boulevard René-Laennec for residents across the island of Laval and surrounding areas. As a 512-bed short-term general and specialized care centre (CHSGS) affiliated with the Université de Montréal, it delivers a full range of emergency and inpatient services including critical care, pediatrics, gynecology-obstetrics, and orthopedics. Patients with serious or complex conditions, including those requiring specialist intervention or hospital admission, should come here rather than an urgent care clinic.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department with triage, Critical care / intensive care, Pediatric emergency care, Gynecology and obstetrics, Orthopedics, Medical imaging (on-site), Laboratory and blood collection, Traumatic brain injury (TBI) follow-up program, GMF-U university family medicine unit, Inpatient short-term care (512 beds).

Amenities

• On-site medical imaging department
• Laboratory and blood collection centre (appointment required for blood collection)
• University-affiliated GMF-U family medicine clinic
• Accessible parking with adapted mobility routes
• On-site pay parking stations at building entrance

Other Care Options

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Tips Before You Go

• Designate one family spokesperson before arriving — the ER team will share patient updates with a single contact only, who then relays information to the rest of the family.
• Only one accompanying person is permitted with a patient being seen by a physician in the emergency room, so plan accordingly.
• Bring your RAMQ health insurance card, your hospital card, and a current written list of all medications to speed up triage.
• If your condition worsens while you are in the waiting room, do not wait — notify the triage nurse immediately so your priority can be reassessed.
• Blood collection services require an appointment; do not arrive expecting walk-in lab service outside of the ER context.
• All official signage and communications are primarily in French; basic French or a translation app will help you navigate the facility independently.

What to Bring

• RAMQ health insurance card (carte d'assurance maladie)
• Hospital card (if you have one from a previous visit)
• Up-to-date list of all current medications and dosages
• Government-issued photo ID
• Provincial health card or proof of coverage if applicable
• List of known allergies
• Phone charger or portable battery (waits can be lengthy)
• Comfortable clothing or a change of clothes for longer stays

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 Quebec health data. Actual wait times may vary.

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