Meadow Lake Hospital

Best Times to Visit

Quieter times: No historical wait time data is currently available for this facility. Generally, mid-morning on weekdays tends to be less busy at rural emergency departments. If your condition is non-life-threatening, weekday daytime visits may result in shorter waits.

Busier times: No historical wait time data is available to identify peak periods. As with most emergency departments, evenings, weekends, and holidays typically see higher patient volumes. Avoid these times for non-urgent concerns if possible.

About Meadow Lake Hospital

Meadow Lake Hospital, part of the Northwest Health Facility at 2-711 Centre Street, operates a 24/7 emergency department serving Meadow Lake and a broad network of rural and remote northern Saskatchewan communities, including First Nations reserves and satellite clinics in Goodsoil and Loon Lake. As a district hospital with 32 inpatient beds, two operating rooms, labour and delivery services, and visiting specialists, it delivers a remarkably broad scope of rural generalist care for a community of its size. Patients requiring emergency care across northwestern Saskatchewan — where the next major centre is over 150 km away — rely on this facility as their primary access point for acute and urgent medical services.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department, Inpatient care (32 beds), Labour and delivery (2 rooms), Surgical services (2 operating rooms), Enhanced Surgical Skills (ESS) physicians, Family Practice Anesthesia (FPA), Visiting specialist consultations, Telehealth and telephone specialist services, Mental health and addiction services, Detox beds (4 beds, Robert Simard Centre), Observation beds, Palliative care, Long-term care (52 beds), Laboratory and X-ray, Home care, Occupational therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech-language pathology, Cardiac rehabilitation, Respiratory and pulmonary rehabilitation, Early childhood development therapy, Children's therapy, Nutrition counseling, Oral health services, Adult and childhood immunizations, Travel health, Harm reduction medical care, Take-Home Naloxone kits and training, Substance checking, Autism services, University of Saskatchewan medical education and residency site.

Amenities

• On-site pharmacy
• Admitting and health records
• Harm reduction supply station (outside ER entrance, 24-hour access)
• Take-Home Naloxone kits available outside ER doors
• Staff and physician areas
• Education facilities
• Housekeeping and maintenance services
• Central stores

Other Care Options

Not every health issue needs an ER visit. Find out where to go for care →

Pharmacists in Saskatchewan can assess and prescribe for dozens of common conditions. See what they can treat →

Compare hospital wait times across Canada. View all wait times →

Tips Before You Go

• The emergency department does not accept appointments — walk in and proceed directly to triage, where a nurse will assess the urgency of your condition.
• Patients are seen based on medical urgency, not arrival order. If you feel your condition — physical or mental — has worsened while waiting, immediately notify the triage nurse.
• A harm reduction supply station, including Take-Home Naloxone kits and training, is located outside the ER entrance and is accessible around the clock.
• If you are travelling from a remote First Nations community or outlying rural area, be aware that complex or high-acuity cases may require transfer to a larger urban centre — bring relevant health information and medication lists to speed up care.
• Meadow Lake Hospital is a University of Saskatchewan teaching site, so medical students and resident physicians may be involved in your care under physician supervision throughout the year.

What to Bring

• Valid Saskatchewan Health Card (provincial health card)
• Government-issued photo ID
• List of current medications, dosages, and allergies
• Any relevant medical records, referral letters, or recent test results
• Health benefits or supplemental insurance information
• Emergency contact information
• Personal comfort items for potential wait times (water bottle, snacks, warm clothing)
• If transferring from a remote community, documentation from referring care provider if available

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 Saskatchewan health data. Actual wait times may vary.

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