While it's not the longest wait time the London Health Sciences Centre has experienced in recent months, patients planning to attend either of the hospital's emergency departments will likely be waiting a while.
On Thursday afternoon, the LHSC said as of 4:30 p.m., the adult emergency departments are experiencing wait times in excess of 18 hours.
"If you’re coming to be treated for something that’s less acute – like an earache or a rash that isn’t accompanied by high fever, shortness of breath or signs of infection – you will receive the care you need, but you might have a long wait," read a statement from Department of Emergency Chief Dr. Christie MacDonald on the LHSC's website. "We understand that can be a frustrating experience, which is why we are encouraging our community to first consider an alternative option when seeking non-emergency medical care.
Those experiencing a medical emergency should call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room. If you do decide to attend an LHSC emergency department, hospital officials said to consider packing a phone charger, water bottle, a book or headphones and a snack.
At the end of August, the LHSC reported a 20 plus hour wait time due to staff shortages.
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