Where to go when you are sick

Choosing the right place saves hours of waiting and gets you better care. Emergency rooms treat the most serious cases first, so a minor problem can mean a very long wait.

• Pharmacy: minor issues, advice, some vaccines and, in Ontario, prescriptions for several common conditions.
• Health811: free advice from a registered nurse by phone or online at any hour.
• Walk in clinic: colds, infections, rashes, minor injuries and prescription renewals without an appointment.
• Urgent care centre: injuries such as sprains and cuts that need attention today but are not life threatening.
• Emergency room: chest pain, difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, severe burns, serious injury, stroke signs or thoughts of suicide.

When in doubt

Call 811 or use Health811 online to speak with a registered nurse and learn about nearby services. It does not replace 911 in an emergency.

What to bring

• Your health card or other coverage information, if you have it.
• A list of medications, allergies and important medical conditions.
• Contact information for your regular clinic and a short description of what happened.
• A support person or a request for interpretation if needed.

• Use Health811