Visitors, support persons and essential care partners (ECPs) play an integral role in the care and well-being of patients.
Each department will assess its unique requirements in providing timely care and adequate rest for patients, and communicate any specific visiting guidelines to patients, their families and friends.
Visiting hours for inpatients are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Please note: Please check with the patient’s unit ahead of your visit to see if your loved one can have visitors.
Visiting hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Please follow all visiting guidelines implemented by the Ministry of Long Term Care.
At Niagara Health, the health, safety and well-being of our staff, physicians, volunteers, learners, patients, families, visitors and the community is our top priority. Niagara Health will continue to provide masks to anyone entering the hospital who wishes to wear one. In addition, anyone experiencing COVID or flu symptoms will be required to wear a mask. In addition to masking guidelines from Public Health Ontario, we also examine our regional pressures and hospital outbreak activity which is currently low. These measures, like all COVID-19/Influenza policies and practices, are subject to ongoing evaluation.
Opportunities to support your loved ones in hospital
A Support person is someone who is 16 years of age or older who can accompany a patient and support them through the care they are receiving. They will come to the hospital with the patient and stay with them for their entire visit.
To learn more about guidelines for Support Persons, please call the unit directly where the patient is receiving care or call our Switchboard at 905-378-4647 for assistance in connecting with the appropriate care area.
A patient may be eligible to have an Essential Care Partner (ECP) trained to be part of their care team if they are admitted to an inpatient bed for longer than seven days or they have a preplanned surgery. Patients request an ECP by speaking with their care team.
The ECP program, launched in January 2021, allows patients to designate up to two loved ones who can provide emotional, cognitive and/or physical care as part of their overall healthcare team (only one person can be at a patient’s bedside at a time). Different than a visitor, an ECP is someone who is considered essential to the safety and well-being of a patient while they are in the hospital. Support can include things like assisting in decision-making, helping patients with eating or other tasks and communicating with hospital staff and physicians when they notice changes in behaviour. Learn about the program
On-site parking is available across Niagara Health. Signage at each location will direct you to park in the lots designated for patients and visitors.
A gated system is in place at our hospitals in St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland. Pay and display systems are in use at the Port Colborne and Fort Erie urgent care centres. See rates.
Parking lots with the gated system have three payment options - cash, VISA or MasterCard. The parking system cannot take debit at this time.
You can use your VISA or MasterCard by directly swiping to get in and out of the parking lot. The same card must be used to enter and exit and no ticket is required.
Alternatively, you can take a ticket upon entry into the parking lot. Bring the ticket into the hospital with you – do not leave it in your vehicle. There are kiosks at the entrances where you can pay by cash, VISA or MasterCard before leaving the building. If you have a ticket, you can also use your VISA or MasterCard to pay at the exit gate. You would need to insert your ticket into the machine, followed by your VISA or MasterCard.
When parking in pay and display lots, please purchase a ticket in the machine and display it on your dashboard.
Niagara Health offers private, semi-private and ward accommodations to our patients.
Ward – up to four patients to a room (covered by your provincial healthcare plan)
Semi-private – two patients to a room (additional charge)
Private – one patient to a room (additional charge)
Please indicate your room preference on the payment agreement when you register with the hospital. Every effort will be made to provide you with the room type you request, but room assignments are based on bed availability and medical necessity of our patients.
Provincial health insurance (OHIP) covers the costs of a ward room only. Some insurance policies cover semi-private or private room charges, or you may wish to pay personally for additional room costs. Unfortunately, the hospital cannot check your insurance coverage, so please verify your coverage in advance with your employer or insurance provider because any remaining balance is your responsibility.
If you have any questions on semi-private and private room charges, please phone the Billing Office at 905-378-4647 x32234 or dial 32234 directly from your room's phone.
A guest wireless internet service is accessible to our patients, visitors and guests on a pay-for-use basis. This system, called iVisitor, is provided in partnership with Cogeco Cable Canada LP and is similar to guest internet services offered at other hospitals. iVisitor is available across Niagara Health, and revenue generated from the service is directed to patient care.
iVisitor rates are as follows:
Note: utilizing the iVisitor service assumes acceptance of the Acceptable Use Policy.
Niagara Health aims to provide a safe, healthy and accessible environment for all. Some fragrances can cause an adverse reaction or make people sick. Respecting this, Niagara Health has adopted a scent-free policy. Staff, patients and visitors are requested to avoid wearing perfume, aftershave and other scented products when they come to Niagara Health. No strongly scented flowers, please.
As a public hospital, Niagara Health is responsible for protecting the privacy of all patients, visitors, staff, physicians and volunteers.
The use of audio or video recording devices and the taking of photographs are not permitted on Niagara Health premises without the advance consent of the individuals in being filmed. Family and friends often bring mobile devices containing built-in cameras with them into the hospital while visiting patients.
It is not practical to forbid the carrying of such devices. However, our staff, physicians and volunteers are obliged to remind patients and visitors that taking photographs, video recording, etc., without the advance consent of the individuals being recorded is not permitted.
Please talk to a member of your care team or call the Security Manager at 905-378-4647, x44303, if you have questions.
Smoking is not allowed anywhere on hospital property (indoors or outdoors) in accordance with the Smoke-free Ontario Act and Niagara Health’s workplace policy. This includes the exterior grounds, parking lots and vehicles. Vaping, using electronic cigarette products and smoking cannabis are also not allowed. Niagara Health is committed to providing a safe, healthy environment for patients, visitors, staff, physicians and volunteers and has a responsibility to ensure compliance under the Smoke-free Ontario Act.
We have several resources available to support you to quit smoking such as counselling and nicotine replacement therapy (patches) that can be requested through community resources. Please speak to your nurse or doctor for more information.
As a primary fundraising program, Niagara Health features gift shops maintained by Hospital Auxiliary members. In the gift shops, you can buy personal items such as soap, toothpaste, and shampoo. Some locations also sell a variety of gift items such as fresh and silk flower arrangements. Our Auxiliary members also help the Niagara Health Foundation by raising funds for patient-care equipment through gift shops, lottery ticket sales, and other resource-generating activities.
There is a cafeteria and Tim Hortons at the St. Catharines hospital, a cafeteria at the Welland hospital, Tim Hortons at the Niagara Falls hospital and other fresh and packaged items at the Fort Erie and Port Colborne urgent care centres. Vending machines providing hot and cold beverages and snacks are available 24 hours a day in Emergency Department and Urgent Care waiting areas and cafeterias.
The Family Room provides a warm and inviting space for families to take a moment of rest, connect with other’s facing similar challenges and access essential amenities to make their hospital experience more manageable.
Patient and family feedback is important in helping us improve our services. Click here to see the number of ways you can give us your compliments, concerns and suggestions.
