Emergency Department visitor information

The Emergency Department (ED) carefully considers its approach to visitors, balancing safety, compassion, and physical space limitations. We know that visitors and essential care partners are important to our patients.

All visitors, including children aged two and older, must wear a mask when in contact with patients and residents, including in patient rooms, treatment spaces, and patient waiting areas. If you arrive without a mask, please take one (free of charge) from the dispensers at our entrances, and wear it when required so that it covers your mouth and nose.

Each patient in our ED is allowed one visitor at a time. If a second person wishes to visit the patient, the first visitor must first leave. One exception is if a patient is at the end of their life (less than 72 hours life expectancy), they may have up to two visitors at the bedside at one time.

If a patient is admitted to hospital, but remains in the ED, then visiting hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. apply. That means that visitors must leave from 8 p.m. to 10 a.m. Once a patient moves from the ED to an inpatient area, different rules may apply.

Visitors who are not in compliance with the requirements outlined above will be required to leave. We have a zero tolerance policy for violence or harassment in the ED.