St. Paul's Hospital patient & visitor guide

Whether you’re a patient of St. Paul’s Hospital or visiting one, use this guide to plan a smooth visit.

Before you come to St. Paul's Hospital

This page contains information on preparing for appointments, what to bring with you to the hospital, visitor information for family and loved ones, and other important patient services. Please review this information before your visit.

Confirm your appointment

If you are a patient coming to a day (outpatient) clinic, call the clinic to confirm your appointment.

Clinic list

Info for surgical patients

Your doctor may want you to have some routine tests done before your surgery. If tests are required, please bring the requisition to the hospital, signed by your doctor.
Call your surgeon’s office the afternoon before your appointment to ask what time you should arrive at the hospital. If you feel ill and/or have a fever or high temperature, tell your doctor.

For new and expecting parents

You will need to bring many things to the hospital when you're having your baby. Our Pregnancy, Birth and Newborn Centre offers resources to help expecting parents prepare. Learn more about giving birth at St. Paul's Hospital.

Newborn baby resting on their mother's chest

Know what to bring

Be aware of what you need to bring to the hospital. Also, consider what you should leave at home or with a loved one. Bring the following items if you are staying overnight at St. Paul's Hospital for treatment:

- BC Services Card and other identification
- Supplementary insurance coverage (extended health insurance)
- Pajamas or nightgown
- Bathrobe & slippers
- Books & magazines
- Digital devices including your cell phone
- Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, shampoo, body/hand lotion, tissues etc.
- Large sums of money
- Valuables, such as jewelry or watches
- Scented products (we are a scent-free and fragrance-free organization)
- Pets

Visiting hours & family presence

Family — defined as those closest to you — play an important role in a patient’s and resident’s well-being. Families and close friends are welcome to visit at any time. Providence Health Care does not restrict visiting hours.

- Sick people need rest. You can visit often, but please respect your loved ones wishes for privacy or rest.
- If you feel unwell, have an infection, flu-like or respiratory symptoms, or any sort of communicable disease (a disease that can be passed onto other people), or have recently been in contact with anyone with these symptoms, we encourage you to stay at home until you’re well again.
- Children under 14 must be under adult supervision (from someone other than the patient) at all times.
- Visiting may be restricted to protect the privacy and rights of other patients.
- Your visit may be interrupted by staff to provide patient care.
- We may not have the space to accommodate a large number of family members, but we’ll try our best.

To contact a patient directly at St. Paul’s Hospital or to confirm that they are at the hospital, please call 604-684-6532.

Please note:

When patients are admitted to St. Paul’s Hospital they are asked to choose whether or not the hospital can release information about their presence and general condition to visitors and callers. If a patient does not want that information to be released, the Information Desk will respect the decision, and will not give information to any caller or visitor, even if they are close family or friends.
Your family and friends can send you messages through the hospital’s Well Wishes email service.
Mail, flowers and gifts are delivered to the wards every day. Family and friends should address letters to you as follows:

Your name
Your room number
St. Paul’s Hospital
1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6

Flowers or plants are not allowed in the Critical Care Unit. Please do not deliver these items to patients there.

Any mail received by a patient after discharge will be forwarded to their home address.

Patient sitting on a hospital bed and talking to a doctor

Know your rights & responsibilities

Learn more about the rights you possess as a hospital patient, including privacy and confidentiality. As a patient, you also have responsibilities as an active participant in your healthcare journey.

Patient rights & responsibilities

Getting here

St. Paul’s Hospital is located in downtown Vancouver. Please plan your trip in advance and allow plenty of time for transit and parking as well as planning for any accommodation you or family members may need.

Getting to St. Paul's Hospital

Local accommodation

There are times when residents from outside the city must travel to Vancouver for non-emergency, physician-referred medical care. We understand that this can be a stressful time. There are many things to coordinate in your personal life to make this trip as smooth and comfortable as possible.

Accommodations near St. Paul’s Hospital

We cannot recommend or endorse these accommodations. We are only providing the information for your convenience.

Hotels and accommodations with special rates for St. Paul's Hospital patients

Please ask each hotel or other accommodations if they have special rates for medical travel. Many do and will offer you a discount.

Local accommodation map

St. Paul's Hospital patient & visitor guide

Whether you’re a patient of St. Paul’s Hospital or visiting one, use this guide to plan a smooth visit.

Before you come to St. Paul's Hospital Copy link to this section

Confirm your appointment

Info for surgical patients

For new and expecting parents

Know what to bring Copy link to this section

Visiting hours & family presence Copy link to this section

Contacting patients

Know your rights & responsibilities Copy link to this section

Getting here Copy link to this section