Online urgent care is available for residents in Southwestern Ontario. Appointment costs are fully covered with an Ontario health card.

In February 2021, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, London Health Sciences Centre and Hamilton Health Sciences Centre partnered together to offer virtual urgent care services through www.urgentcareontario.ca. We offer urgent online medical care services to adults, children and residents of long-term care across Southwestern Ontario.

• Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre – provides virtual urgent care for children/youth
• Hamilton Health Sciences – provides virtual acute care consultations for long-term residents (currently Hamilton and Niagara North West)
• St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton – provides virtual urgent care for adults in Southwestern Ontario

The www.urgentcareontario.ca initiative received provincial funding to enhance the pandemic response through appropriate virtual care options, which are key in ensuring continuity of health services while preventing the spread of COVID-19.

A virtual urgent care appointment may be right for you if you or a loved one have a medical issue that is NOT life threatening, but requires urgent medical attention. The www.urgentcareontario.ca services are only for individuals that have an urgent medical issue but cannot see their family doctor due to availability or they do not have a family doctor.

We inform all patients that their first point of contact should always be their family doctor if they have one and they are available. We know family doctors are the most familiar with the personal and medical history of their patients, and often have a lengthy relationship with them. Patients seen through www.urgentcareontario.ca are told to follow up with their family doctor if necessary.

For any adults who see an www.urgentcareontario.ca, the assessment notes from the visit are shared with the patient’s family physician through fax within 24 hours.

Health care services and/or community supports for patients in the Windsor-Essex Area (including Leamington, Lakeshore, LaSalle, Kingsville, Amherstburg, Tecumseh, Pelee) are available through Windsor Essex Ontario Health Team.

If you are in severe distress, call 911 and do not drive yourself to the hospital. If you’re having a medical emergency or your symptoms worsen while you’re waiting for a virtual appointment, visit your nearest emergency department or urgent care centre in person.