Londoners contemplating a non-urgent trip to either Victoria Hospital or University Hospital's emergency department may be in for a long wait.
Early Tuesday evening, the London Health Sciences Centre issued a brief statement on Twitter regarding longer-than-usual wait times at both of its adult emergency departments.
As of 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Victoria Hospital has an estimated wait time of 13.25 hours, while University Hospital is dealing with a 12-hour wait. The Children's Hospital Emergency Department, attached to Victoria Hospital, has an approximate 1.5-hour wait to see a physician.
"Upon arrival, patients are prioritized based on severity of illness and injury. Critically ill patients are assessed and treated first," read a statement on the LHSC's website. "The wait times provided reflect the time patients may have to wait to see a physician for non-urgent and non-emergent concerns."
Those experiencing non-urgent illnesses are advised to consider contacting their family doctor, nurse practitioner, or their on-call service if one is available. Otherwise, the LHSC said individuals experiencing non-severe symptoms should visit a walk-in or urgent care clinic first.
Additionally, health-related advice is available 24/7 from a registered nurse by calling Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.
Anyone experiencing serious medical injuries or conditions should not delay seeking emergency care.
"If you require serious medical attention, go to your nearest Emergency Department," the LHSC stated on its webpage. "For life-threatening, time-critical emergencies, call 9-1-1."
https://twitter.com/LHSCCanada/status/1623102208291004417
