The Emergency Departments are experiencing high volumes of patients who need care. Please be prepared to wait. The most serious cases are treated first.
Not all health concerns need emergency care. You can also book a virtual visit or go to an urgent care clinic for these concerns. For life-threatening symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
Thank you for your patience.
At Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN), protecting the health and well-being of patients, visitors, and team members is core to who we are.
Through careful planning and everyday actions, we work to create safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments for all.
Your safety and security are our top priorities. We have strong safety protocols in place to protect you, your loved ones, and team members so that everyone feels comfortable while at WRHN. These include:
Whether you are here for a visit or receiving treatment, you can feel confident that we are here to take care of you and keep you safe.
At WRHN, we are ready to respond quickly and calmly to any emergency. We use a colour-coded system to alert teams to situations and guide timely responses. Each coded colour alerts an emergency response team. This system helps teams act fast while keeping you safe and informed. When needed, we also work with local emergency services to make sure our response is smooth and organized.
If there is an emergency, you will not be alone. Our team will be here to guide you every step of the way.
We can all help stop the spread of illness. Whether you are a patient or a visitor, please follow these simple steps while at WRHN.
If you are a visitor:
If you are a patient:
Wash or sanitize your hands often, especially:
To keep patients and visitors safe, please stay home if you have:
We take many steps to avoid the spread of illness and keep our Hospitals safe. Despite this, outbreaks can still happen. An outbreak is when more people than usual get sick from the same illness, like a virus or infection. When this happens, our teams act quickly to stop it from spreading to other parts of the Hospital. To do this, we follow Ontario’s health and safety guidelines and work with public health experts and our Infection Prevention and Control Team to protect patients, visitors, and teams.
To control outbreaks, WRHN teams:
You can feel confident in the safety measures we take to protect you. We are here to support your health with care that is thoughtful and consistent.
Knowing what to expect when you come for care helps create a safe and respectful experience. The Waterloo Wellington Patient Declaration of Values is a statement that shares what matters most to patients and families. It was created with input from 20 local patient and family groups, including all area hospitals. Their voices helped shape a message that reflects the kind of experience we want you to have when you come to WRHN for care.
Keeping everyone safe is important to us. During your visit to WRHN, you may see signs reminding you that hurtful words or actions toward team members, doctors, volunteers, or other patients are not okay. We do not tolerate any kind of verbal or physical abuse. Individuals displaying violence at WRHN may be removed from property, and local police may also be involved. Thank you for helping us make WRHN a safe and respectful place for all.
If you have any safety concerns, please speak with a team member or share your feedback online through our Share Your Feedback page. We will address your concern right away and keep you informed, so you can feel confident and safe during your visit.
Our Security Team is there to provide a safe environment for all who visit WRHN. If you see something to report, please contact security. If you need help, the security offices can be found at:
