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Emergency and Urgent Care

Blurred motion image of patient rushed on stretcher to emergency care

Lakeridge Health's Emergency Departments provide 24-hour access to care for people experiencing trauma or sudden illness. We have Emergency Departments at our Ajax-Pickering, Bowmanville, Oshawa, and Port Perry hospitals.

When you arrive in the Emergency Department, you will visit the Triage Nurse who will assess your problem. Please be prepared with your health card, a list of medications and allergies, and emergency contact information.

When should I visit the Emergency Department?

You should go to your nearest Emergency Department if you require emergency or urgent care related to a serious injury, illness, or condition. Please note that the examples listed below are not exhaustive. 

Go to your nearest Emergency Department if you or a family member experiences any of the following:

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath when doing very little or resting
  • Continuous vomiting or severe diarrhea with signs of dehydration such as dry tongue, dry mouth, decreased peeing (no urine for the past 6-8 hours), or very yellow/orange, dark urine
  • Stiff neck and sensitivity to light
  • Seizures or convulsions
  • Confusion or disorientation
  • Chest pain or tightness in the chest
  • A broken bone or a wound that may need stitches
  • Sudden, severe headaches, vision problems, sudden weakness, numbness and/or tingling sensations, trouble speaking, dizziness

  • Fever when 
    • Child is less than three months old
    • Child has complex medical or immune system problems
  • Trouble breathing that doesn’t improve with fever medications or your child’s puffers 
  • Vomiting or diarrhea when
    • Child is less than three months old
    • Child experiences repeated vomiting and is unable to keep liquids down (any age, if it lasts eight hours or more)
    • It contains large amounts of blood
    • Child is dehydrated (eight hours or more with no urination) 
  • Injuries
    • Injured arm or leg that looks crooked, deformed or dislocated
    • A fall with pain the neck, chest or stomach
    • A burn that is blistering
    • Head injury with extreme tiredness, loss of consciousness, and/or repeated vomiting
    • Cuts that won’t stop bleeding or that are deep or big that might need stitches
    • Eye injuries
  • Rashes that look like bruising, with a fever 

As a parent or guardian, you know your child best. For more information to help you decide if the Emergency Department is right for you, read this patient handout. 

Emergency Department Discharge Instructions

  • We have developed instruction sheets for various conditions to help with your care at home after you have been discharged from the Emergency Department.
  • If you have any concerns, please contact your physician, health-care provider or the Emergency Department without delay.

Where do I go if I need health care but it's not an 'emergency'?

If you need emergency care, please go to your nearest Emergency Department immediately. If you do not need emergency care, there are other health-care options close by.

Improved Check-In Kiosk Experience at the Oshawa Hospital Emergency Department 

To help make your visit easier and more efficient, we are upgrading the self-service check-in kiosks in the Emergency Department at the Oshawa Hospital to create a smoother check-in experience and keep you better informed while you wait. The enhanced kiosks support ongoing improvements, help us better understand arrival patterns and demographics, and will continue to evolve over time as new features and updates become available.  

What to Expect When You Arrive 

When you arrive at the Emergency Department, you will begin by checking in at a self-service kiosk. During check-in, you’ll have the option to sign up for text message updates on your mobile phone. If you choose to receive texts, we’ll notify you when it’s time to move to the triage area (the step where a nurse checks how urgent your condition is, so patients with the most serious needs are seen first). 

Why This Change Matters 

Waiting in the Emergency Department can be stressful, especially when you’re unsure about next steps. This updated check-in process helps by: 

  • Streamlining and speeding up check-in. 

  • Reducing uncertainty while you wait. 

  • Keeping you informed about when to proceed to triage. 

How It Works 

  1. Check in at the self-service kiosk upon arrival. 

  1. Enter your mobile number to receive text updates (optional). 

  1. Receive a text message when it’s time to go to triage. 

Your Privacy 

Your privacy is important to us. Text messages are used only for your Emergency Department visit and are sent solely to guide you through the check-in and triage process. 

Urgent care options banner for immediate medical services and patient guidance.

Directions to our Emergency Departments

580 Harwood Ave S, ON L1S 2J4
905-683-2320

View a larger map of Lakeridge Health Ajax Pickering

47 Liberty Street South, Bowmanville, ON L1C 2N4
905-623-3331

View a larger map of Lakeridge Health Bowmanville

1 Hospital Court, Oshawa, ON L1G 2B9
905-576-8711


View a larger map of Lakeridge Health Oshawa 

451 Paxton Street, Port Perry, ON, L9L 1L9
905-985-7321


View a larger map of Lakeridge Health Port Perry

Contact Us

Lakeridge Health
905-576-8711