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Hospitals and Health Clinics

Last updated on July 5, 2021

Most B.C. citizens will visit a hospital or health clinic at some point in their life. These institutions provide four types of key medical services:

  • emergency care;
  • out-patient care (i.e. when you go in for a scheduled service like day;
  • surgery or a diagnostic test like an x-ray and return home the same day);
  • in-patient care (i.e. when you stay in the hospital overnight to receive care for acute or chronic illnesses or to undergo more complicated surgeries); and/or,
  • primary care (i.e. when you see your family doctor or nurse practitioner for a medical appointment)

Five regional health authorities and one provincial health authority oversee the operation of B.C.'s hospitals and health clinics and are responsible for planning, delivering, and ensuring the quality of the services they provide.

Find a Hospital or Health Clinic in B.C.

You can use the following tools to find information about hospitals and health clinics in B.C., including addresses and telephone numbers.

For locations of influenza (flu) immunization clinics, see:

Who can use B.C. hospitals and health clinics?

B.C. residents must be registered with the Medical Services Plan, which insures residents for most hospital and health clinic services. Patients may have to pay extra for services that are not medically necessary, such as private or semi-private hospital rooms, television access, and medical notes.

For more information, see:

Wait Times

Services at B.C.'s hospitals and health clinics are in high demand. Patients with urgent, critical needs receive services first. Some people may have to wait for surgical procedures and diagnostic tests. B.C. is doing its best to ensure all patients receive timely health care.

For a list of surgical wait times in B.C., see:

Having Trouble?

Seniors who have issues accessing health care services or with the health care they received can call the:

Home and Community Care

Depending on your care needs, you may qualify for publicly subsidized home and community care services:

Health Conditions

For more information about health issues like Alzheimer’s, diabetes and heart disease, see:

Emergency

In a medical emergency, dial 9-1-1, if it’s available in your community, or call the emergency number listed in the front of your phone book.