heart and stroke

Emergency Department

SLMHC provides a fully staffed emergency department (ER) 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

When arriving at the registration desk at the emergency entrance, individuals will be asked to report their main medical complaint, health card number, address and allergies. The patient will then be triaged by an emergency nurse and will be asked to provide a history of their medical complaint, report any medications they are taking and participate in a nursing assessment.

How do I request this service?

  • For emergencies call 911
  • Walk-in patients
  • Referrals:  Follow-up appointments for ER can be made for holidays, weekends and evenings when day medicine is closed

When will I be seen?

Our Emergency Department team works to provide quality care as quickly as possible. Our Emergency Department triages (sorts) patients based on level of care needs using the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS), which is used in all Emergency Departments across Canada.

The CTAS outlines expected ER assessment times using a scale from 1 (most urgent) to 5 (not urgent).

View the scale in the drop down menus below, or click here to view the poster!  When you are in the Emergency Department, we ask that you let our staff know IMMEDIATELY if your condition/symptoms changes while waiting.

CTAS 1: Most Urgent – Immediate Assessment

Examples of Most Urgent:

  • Major trauma
  • Serious car accident
  • Heart stopped beating
  • Suspected Stroke

CTAS 2: Very Urgent – Assessment within 15 minutes

Examples of Very Urgent:

  • Severe trauma
  • Suspected heart attack
  • Large broken bone(s)
  • Severe trouble breathing

CTAS 3: Urgent – Assessment within 30 minutes

Examples of Urgent:

  • Moderate trauma
  • Fainting
  • Head injury
  • Asthma attack
  • Temperature greater than 40 degrees Celsius
  • Seizure

CTAS 4: Less Urgent – Assessment within 60 minutes
(1 Hour)


Examples of Less Urgent:

  • Minor trauma
  • Cut requiring stitches
  • Small broken bone (broken ankle or wrist)
  • Sore ear, eye, or throat

CTAS 5: Not Urgent – Assessment within 120 minutes
(2 Hours)


Examples of Not Urgent:

  • Minor trauma
  • Removal of stitches
  • Renewing a prescription
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Coughing or congestion