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Because it's based on emergencies. You are triaged when you get there as to your problems and the emergent need to see a doctor. If it's not an emergency then you shouldn't be going there. That's what walk in clinics are for.

pitterpatter said "Because it's based on emergencies. You are triaged when you get there as to your problems and the emergent need to see a doctor. If it's not an emergency then you shouldn't be going there. That's what walk in clinics are for. "

Just called to see what the wait times were and the woman who answered the phone says "we can't tell you that?"....did she mean she doesn't know or does Brandon have some kind of policy? If so curious why? Every hospital in Winnipeg updates wait times online...back in my small town they'll give you an idea...

Assume I'm aware of that...my original question was?

I can't answer your question for why they won't tell you over the phone. However, they do have a couple of TV's in the waiting room that tell you the approximate wait time. I have even noticed some walk-in clinics no longer tell you how long of a wait it is over the phone, you have to physically pop into them now. Maybe it has to do with the fact we are a smaller city with only one hospital compared to bigger cities that have multiple hospitals?

Why didn't you ask the lady on the phone why she cant tell you the wait time or contact the health authority and ask why they cant tell you over the phone? You`ll probably get a better answer from them, than just speculation on here.  
 
Edited by The_Young_Man, 2016-12-28 18:11:36

That's what I was asking...thanks.

When I went to emergency the clock said 45 minutes. I waited my 45 and was called, sadly they just took my temperature and started a chart. I waited 4 more hours before I seen a doctor.  
 
When I left the clock said 20 minute wait.  
 
Personally, I think it's just a game they play to meet an imaginary target.

As the above poster stated once you arrive at emerg you see the triage nurse. If your symptoms are serious. Ie: you could possibly be having a cardiac event, chances are you won't wait and they will take you in asap! If you arrive at emerg with complaints of a sore toe, you may wait until the more serious cases are scene. Please also be aware of incoming ambulances bringing in patients as well. I'd say if you are concerned about how long you will have to wait - chances are you're NOT in a medical emergency! IF you are yiubwoukd be heading straight there and wouldn't have time to call first to ask and then take to ebrandon. Perhaps you should stay home and go to walk in tomorrow.

Just asked a question...we don't need to set the world on fire...

They can't tell you because it could be 30 minutes wait time when they tell you on the phone, and then an emergency patient/ambulance comes in bumping it to 2 hour wait time etc. There is no way to predict what will happen from the time you call until the time you arrive. You could also wait 5 minutes or 4 hours depending on your symptoms, no way to tell you that until they see you in person. Every time I've went to the ER I've waited at least 2-3 hours. Once I got into a room in 20 minutes first thing in the morning on a Monday (it was dead) If you can wait, then wait. Clinics start opening up at 8am tomorrow.

If you have to ask the wait time, You do not need to go there.  
 
Find an alternative.

That makes sense.

TheScotsman said "If you have to ask the wait time, You do not need to go there.     Find an alternative. "

Very insightful...I do enjoy the "on point" responses...ask if anyone knew if it was policy and maybe what was the reason behind it? Answers? STAY OUT OF THE ER!!!! BAH!

The simple answer is no one can accurately predict the wait time in the ER in Brandon. There are many contributing factors that come in to play. There is no policy, again its too hard to predict. If they did and got it wrong then the crazy lady with the sore toe would go bananas because 20 minutes ago on the phone some nurse that was having a bad day said it would only be a half hour and now its been 3 hours but really on the phone she wanted to say perhaps stay home and go to walk in tomorrow, except all BRH (Manitoba only) nurses always act professional.  
 
Anyways I think you got your answer and a few laughs were had. Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Go see Benning on 18th Street unless you have broken bones  
 
He is the best triage doctor in Brandon bar none, other doctors don't like him and he has a horrible bed side manner but he is the best at his craft

I post about the clock not meaning anything. In my case, I was attacked by a large dog an I need stiches in 4 areas plus have my hand damage looked at.  
I wasn''t going to die, but I needed to use emergency.  
In my case, I believe they played a time clock game to keep the numbers looking good.  
 
Edited by loeog, 2016-12-28 20:43:52

You can get stitches at any clinic

If your life is in danger you get priority, if it is not life threatening but serious, you will get next priority, if it is not serious and not life threatening you will wait for hours.....  
 
Wait time depends on severity of the malady.  
 
P.S. People that go to E.R. for things that can be looked after at a walk-in would be better off to go to the walk-in Basically the ER policy is "the closer you are to dying, the quicker you will see a DR.  
 
They cannot give you a "wait time" maybe because that can change with the next person that is brought in.  
 
I nearly lost my finger at work - it took almost two hours before I was looked at because there were more urgent patients that came in at the time. Conversely, my son saw a Dr almost immediately for a severe head injury.  
 
Edited by Cee Jay 55, 2016-12-28 21:36:24

I think I get it now...I was wondering why Winnipeg listed the wait times online. Now I know it's because there are more than one hospital and if you are in desperate need knowing what the general expected wait time is at each hospital would allow you to better choose where to go. Brandon only having one hospital it would likely cause more problems than it solved to give out estimated wait times. Thanks to the 4 of you that helped me figure out that casual question.

Many times I've been to the emergency room and the waiting time is unbelievable, specially at night, my shortest visit was around 4 hours... That's why they wont say, cause its always a long wait.  
I know they will attend you depending on the emergency type but I've seen pretty bad patients waiting at least 2 hours...

pm5k said "I think I get it now...I was wondering why Winnipeg listed the wait times online. Now I know it's because there are more than one hospital and if you are in desperate need knowing what the general expected wait time is at each hospital would allow you to better choose where to go. Brandon only having one hospital it would likely cause more problems than it solved to give out estimated wait times. Thanks to the 4 of you that helped me figure out that casual question. "

Also, keep in mind that while Winnipeg RHA advertises it's wait times online, they're rarely correct. I've had to access the ER in Winnipeg a few times, and it's never been remotely "correct" for the exact reasons that the Brandon one is rarely right - someone more urgent comes in and messes it all up.  
 
It's really just all a shell game, to make it look good and alleviate frustration on the part of the consumer (patient), but it's like the "door close" button on the elevator - it doesn't actually do anything or mean anything other than to pacify us.

pm5k said "I think I get it now...I was wondering why Winnipeg listed the wait times online. Now I know it's because there are more than one hospital and if you are in desperate need knowing what the general expected wait time is at each hospital would allow you to better choose where to go. Brandon only having one hospital it would likely cause more problems than it solved to give out estimated wait times. Thanks to the 4 of you that helped me figure out that casual question. "

My theory was that Brandon is embarrassed about the wait times so they don't want to say  
We had an 8 hour visit recently when it took 30 minutes total to take the x-ray, read the x-ray and apply a temporary cast. Not to mention they over looked additional damage of another body part due to the original injury and didn't even look at the 9 year olds nose that bled for 4 hours. Some quality care there. Sad thing is the actual doctor who finally did the cast was very nice and was clearly running around like a chicken to accommodate what I see as lack of staff/doctors.

Heard a while back that hospitals in Steinbach, Morden/Winkler and Portage will soon be posting wait times online, so maybe Brandon will do the same at soon.

As I don't have much nice to say about the brandon er i'm going to keep this nice and short. If you have an option of going else where for er services i would choose that option as i was waiting in the er with my mother who's appendix busrt for 13 hrs and to me that is unacceptable as it seemed people with very minor illnesses and injuries where getting in before her and had arrived after us.

Anybody that tells you how long your going to wait in emergency, just told you a lie, cant be done they only have so much staff and no control over who is going to show up they could get a call any second an ambulance is on the way, and there not going to turn them away because the waiting room is full of impatient people that can wait.its not a restaurant.

Sometimes waiting time is way too long.I've see people waiting for too long. I've been there a couple times myself and it wasn't too bad for me but I've seen a guy with an injury in his leg bleeding like crazy he had to wait almost 4 hours. In my opinion that's a little too long.

Yes, Brandon is very different than other cities or towns - not as friendly either unfortunately  
They are like a whole different country  
 
Best to go there and see -

I find the Brandon ER to be fantastic. If you have ever had to use a Winnipeg ER (which I have), then you will never complain about Brandon's again. Yes, they can be extremely busy and short staffed but the nurses are incredible as are the doctors. If you have to wait for a few hours to get in you should count yourself lucky: you are not in a life/death situation. Yes, it is frustrating to wait when you are in pain/uncomfortable but keep the big picture in mind. if you can choose not to wait, you don't really need to use the ER.

She could not tell you because she did not know.  
I don't believe that there is a policy but I do believe that the person you asked simply did not have an answer that was concise.  
If she tells people an hour and an emergency happens and it takes 5 hours then people are on EBrandon calling foul.