Bc Children's Hospital: Pediatric Care & Info

Pediatric Hospital Guide · Vancouver BC · Family Care Info

BC Children’s Hospital pediatric care, emergency department, appointments, records, parking, and caregiver information

BC Children’s Hospital is a provincial pediatric hospital in Vancouver serving children and youth from British Columbia and Yukon. The main campus is listed at 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, with the main hospital phone number 604-875-2345.

This guide helps parents and caregivers understand when to use the pediatric emergency department, how referrals and appointments work, where to find records, how to plan parking and transportation, and which official hospital resources to check before visiting.

Call Main Hospital: 604-875-2345 Toll-Free: 1-888-300-3088 Official Website Emergency Info

Emergency notice: If a child is having trouble breathing, has severe injury, seizure, poisoning, blue lips, major bleeding, loss of consciousness, severe allergic reaction, or another life-threatening condition, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.

Main hospital 604-875-2345

Use for the hospital switchboard, department routing, and general connection to hospital services.

Toll-free 1-888-300-3088

Useful for families calling from outside Metro Vancouver or elsewhere in BC and Yukon.

Address 4500 Oak Street

Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1. Some clinics and patient materials may list building-specific Oak Street addresses.

Emergency Department Open 24/7

Pediatric emergency care is available every day. Use 9-1-1 for life-threatening emergencies.

Referral pattern Usually required

Many specialty clinics require a referral from a doctor, nurse practitioner, midwife, or care provider.

Records access Gateway + AccessMyHealth

Eligible families may access records through Health Gateway and AccessMyHealth, including proxy access where allowed.

About BC Children’s Hospital

BC Children’s Hospital is a major pediatric hospital and specialized referral centre for children and youth.

BC Children’s Hospital provides pediatric emergency care, inpatient care, outpatient specialty clinics, diagnostic testing, surgery, mental health programs, rehabilitation services, and family support resources. Many children arrive through referrals from community physicians, nurse practitioners, midwives, regional hospitals, or specialist teams.

Because the hospital campus includes multiple buildings and entrances, families should check their appointment letter, clinic page, or care team instructions before travelling. The main hospital listing and clinic pages may show different building addresses, room numbers, clinic areas, and entrance instructions.

Best first step: If you already have an appointment, follow the instructions in your appointment letter. If you only know “BC Children’s,” call the main hospital number or the clinic listed on your referral to confirm the correct building and entrance.

BC Children’s Hospital contact directory

Use the right contact path so your request reaches the department that can actually help.

Need help with	Best contact route	What to prepare
Main hospital switchboard	604-875-2345	Patient name, department or clinic name, physician name if known, and reason for calling.
Toll-free hospital contact	1-888-300-3088	Caller location, patient name, clinic, appointment date, and extension if provided.
Emergency symptoms	Call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department	Symptoms, medications, allergies, recent surgery, known condition, and health card if safely available.
Change or cancel a clinic appointment	Call the clinic number on the appointment letter	Child’s full name, date of birth, appointment date, clinic name, and whether you need to reschedule.
Medical records	Health Gateway, AccessMyHealth, or Health Information Management release process	Patient identity, caregiver authority, dates of care, document type, and proxy-access forms if required.
Parking problems	Impark Health customer support or parking administration	License plate, lot, meter/payment issue, ticket number, date, and appointment location.
Compliments or complaints	Patient experience or care-quality process	Date of care, unit or clinic, staff role, patient name, concern, and requested follow-up.

Pediatric emergency care at BC Children’s Hospital

The Emergency Department is for urgent and emergency pediatric medical needs. Use 9-1-1 for life-threatening problems.

Go now or call 9-1-1

Severe breathing trouble, blue lips, unconsciousness, major trauma, poisoning, seizure, severe allergic reaction, uncontrolled bleeding, or rapidly worsening symptoms need immediate emergency care.

Bring key details

Bring the child’s BC Services Card or health card, medication list, allergies, recent discharge papers, specialist notes, and any device or feeding-tube information.

Expect triage

Emergency departments see the sickest children first. A child who arrived later may be seen sooner if their condition is more urgent.

Not every issue needs ER

For non-urgent questions, contact your family doctor, nurse practitioner, clinic, urgent care, or call 8-1-1 for health advice in BC.

Poison exposure: If a child may have swallowed, touched, or inhaled a toxic substance, call Poison Control at 1-800-567-8911 or call 9-1-1 for severe symptoms.

Appointments and referrals at BC Children’s Hospital

Many BC Children’s specialty clinics are referral-based. Families usually cannot self-book directly into most specialized services.

Confirm who referred your child. Referrals may come from a family doctor, nurse practitioner, midwife, regional pediatrician, specialist, emergency physician, or another BC Children’s department.

Watch for appointment instructions. Appointment letters or calls may include clinic area, entrance, registration desk, arrival time, tests to complete, fasting rules, medicines to hold, and cancellation instructions.

Call the clinic if you need to reschedule. Give the child’s name, date of birth, clinic, appointment date/time, and whether you need a new appointment.

Ask about interpreter support early. If your family needs language interpretation, tell the clinic before the appointment so arrangements can be made.

Bring paperwork and medicines. Bring appointment letter, health card, medication list, equipment details, custody/guardian documents if relevant, and questions for the care team.

Confirm follow-up before leaving. Ask whether your child needs lab work, imaging, a new referral, a follow-up call, a return visit, or community-care instructions.

Referral note: If you have not heard back after a referral, contact the referring provider first to confirm the referral was sent, then call the specialty clinic only if you have the clinic’s direct instructions.

Clinics and services families commonly search for

BC Children’s has many clinics and programs. Use the official clinic page or appointment letter for the exact phone, fax, location, and eligibility rules.

Service area	What it may include	Best next step
Emergency Department	Urgent pediatric illness, injury, trauma, surgical emergencies, mental health crisis, or rapid deterioration.	Use 9-1-1 for life-threatening issues or go to the nearest emergency department.
Specialty outpatient clinics	Respiratory medicine, endocrinology, diabetes, cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and other specialties.	Check whether a referral is required and follow the clinic’s appointment instructions.
Surgery and anesthesia	Pre-operative assessment, day procedures, inpatient surgery, post-anesthesia instructions, and family preparation.	Follow fasting and arrival instructions exactly; call the surgical area if the child becomes ill before surgery.
Diagnostic services	Lab work, imaging, pulmonary function testing, sleep testing, and specialty diagnostics depending on referral.	Ask whether any medicines, food, or activity should be held before testing.
Mental health and substance use	Specialized pediatric and youth mental health programs, eating-disorder care, crisis pathways, and outpatient/inpatient services.	Use emergency services for immediate safety risks; otherwise follow referral instructions.
Family and support services	Social work, Indigenous health support, sibling support, interpreter services, wayfinding, and family resources.	Ask your child’s nurse, clinic, or care team what support is available for your visit or stay.

Clinic-search tip: Search by clinic name plus “BC Children’s” and confirm the clinic area, phone number, fax number, referral requirement, and cancellation instructions on the official hospital page.

Before your child’s visit: documents, questions, and safety checklist

A little preparation can reduce delays, especially for first visits, specialist appointments, procedures, and long-distance travel.

Bring identification

Bring the child’s BC Services Card or health coverage document, parent/guardian ID if requested, appointment letter, and legal documents if guardianship is relevant.

Bring health details

Bring medication names and doses, allergies, feeding plan, device settings, recent test results, discharge summaries, immunization notes, and specialist reports.

Prepare questions

Write down symptoms, timeline, triggers, school/daycare concerns, pain pattern, growth or eating changes, sleep changes, and what you want answered.

Plan the day

Leave time for parking, registration, wayfinding, lab tests, imaging, pharmacy stops, and unexpected waits.

If your child is sick before an appointment: Call the clinic for instructions. Some clinics may need to reschedule, while urgent symptoms may need same-day medical advice.

Inpatient stays, family presence, visitors, and discharge planning

Hospital stays can involve unit-specific rules, infection-control limits, family accommodation, rounds, medication teaching, and discharge instructions.

Parent or caregiver presence

Ask the unit about family sleeping space, overnight support, meal options, and caregiver expectations for rounds, consent, and teaching.

Visitor rules

Visitor rules can change due to infection-control needs, outbreaks, patient condition, or unit policy. Confirm current rules with the unit before inviting visitors.

Sibling visits

Ask the care team before bringing siblings. Some units may have sibling-support resources or limits based on illness risk and supervision.

Discharge planning

Before leaving, ask about medicines, warning signs, follow-up appointments, school return, activity limits, wound care, equipment, and who to call after hours.

Return precautions

Make sure you know which symptoms require a call to the clinic, family doctor, urgent care, emergency department, or 9-1-1.

Medical records, Health Gateway, AccessMyHealth, and caregiver proxy access

Families may need records for follow-up care, schools, travel, insurance, specialists, or community providers.

Record need	Best route	What to know
Lab results, imaging reports, medications, visits	Health Gateway	Health Gateway is BC’s provincial patient portal and may show health records, hospital visits, medications, and results.
PHSA hospital records and clinic documents	AccessMyHealth	AccessMyHealth may show upcoming appointments, diagnostics, allergies, procedure history, care-team messages, and select documents.
Parent or caregiver access	Proxy access process	Authorized family members or caregivers may need proxy-access authorization forms before viewing a child’s electronic record.
Full chart or release to another provider	Health Information Management release process	Request the specific date range, clinic, admission, report type, and receiving provider details.
Immunization record	Provincial immunization record route	Hospital/health facility records may not be the best source for immunization history, so check the official immunization-record pathway.

Records request script: “I need records for my child from BC Children’s Hospital. The dates of care are ____. I need ____ for school, specialist care, insurance, or family doctor follow-up. I am the parent/guardian and can complete proxy or release forms if needed.”

Parking, valet, transit, and getting around the hospital campus

Plan extra time. The campus has multiple entrances, buildings, parking areas, transit access, and accessible-parking locations.

Travel need	Official guidance to check	Practical tip
Short visit parking	Paid parking is available across hospital lots, with posted meter/rate details.	Take a photo of your license plate and lot area before walking in.
Long appointment or admission	Daily, weekly, and monthly parking pass information may be available on parking pages or meters.	Ask the care team or social worker if hardship parking help may apply.
Valet	Free valet service is offered at selected entrances during stated weekday hours, while regular parking rates still apply.	Use valet when mobility, illness, strollers, equipment, or bad weather make parking difficult.
Transit	Nearby bus routes and Canada Line access are described on official parking and transportation pages.	Use TransLink trip planner and allow time to walk from King Edward Station or nearby bus stops.
Accessible parking	Accessible stalls are listed near multiple entrances and require a valid accessible parking permit.	Match the entrance closest to your clinic area before arriving.
Parking problem	Impark Health provides 24/7 customer support and meter/payment issue support.	Keep your ticket, receipt, license plate, and lot details for support.

Wayfinding tip: Appointment letters may mention entrance numbers, clinic areas, or building names. Use those details before relying only on the street address.

Accessibility, interpreter services, Indigenous health, and caregiver support

Ask early if your child or family needs communication, mobility, cultural, emotional, or practical support.

Interpreter services

Interpreter support may be available. Tell the clinic before the visit which language is needed and whether in-person, phone, or video interpretation is appropriate.

Wheelchair access

HealthLink BC lists wheelchair accessibility. Check the best entrance, parking stall, elevator, and route for your appointment area.

Indigenous health support

Ask your child’s care team about Indigenous patient and family support services if culturally safe navigation or support would help.

Sibling and family support

Care teams can help families understand sibling support, social work, family resources, and practical supports during longer visits or admissions.

Family support, travel planning, and caregiver questions

Families travelling from outside Vancouver should plan for travel, accommodation, meals, school needs, work leave, and follow-up care.

Long-distance travel

Ask your referring provider and BC Children’s clinic what records, test results, medications, equipment, and travel documents are needed before travelling.

Social work support

If parking, meals, family travel, lodging, school, or income disruption is a concern, ask your care team about social work or family-support options.

School and activity notes

Ask the care team for school notes, gym restrictions, medication-at-school instructions, and return-to-activity guidance when needed.

Follow-up at home

Before leaving, confirm who manages follow-up: BC Children’s clinic, family doctor, pediatrician, regional hospital, home nursing, or community therapy.

Costs, BC health coverage, out-of-province families, and financial questions

Coverage and billing depend on residency, insurance, referral route, service type, and whether the visit is medically insured.

BC residents

Bring the child’s BC Services Card. Ask the clinic if any forms, uninsured items, equipment, parking, travel, or accommodation costs may apply.

Out-of-province families

Bring provincial health coverage details and ask the clinic or registration team what documents are needed before appointment day.

International visitors

Contact the hospital or care team before a planned visit to understand required documents, deposits, insurance, and billing requirements.

Parking hardship

Ask your care team or social worker if financial-hardship parking assistance may be available for your situation.

Receipts and forms

Keep receipts for parking, travel, accommodation, medications, equipment, and uninsured services if you may claim reimbursement later.

BC Children’s Hospital map and main campus location

Use the official campus map, appointment letter, and clinic instructions to choose the correct entrance.

BC Children’s Hospital
4500 Oak Street
Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1
Main phone: 604-875-2345
Toll-free: 1-888-300-3088

Map shown for the main hospital campus. Confirm the exact entrance, clinic area, and building in your appointment instructions.

Official source checklist for BC Children’s Hospital

Use these official or public-health sources for final verification because clinic locations, parking, visitor rules, referrals, and record-access processes can change.

Official source	What it verifies	When to use it
BC Children’s Hospital	Hospital programs, clinics, emergency resources, patient and family information, and official hospital updates.	Use first for hospital-specific pediatric care information.
HealthLink BC listing	Address, main phone, toll-free number, emergency-hours note, interpreter availability, and wheelchair access.	Use for quick contact and access details.
Emergency Department	Pediatric emergency department guidance and urgent-care instructions.	Use before deciding whether symptoms require emergency care.
Clinics and services	Clinic-specific referral rules, phone numbers, appointment details, care instructions, and contact information.	Use for a specific clinic or specialty.
Parking and transportation	Parking rates, valet service, transit, cycling, accessibility, accessible parking, and parking-support contacts.	Use before travelling to campus.
Health records access	Health Gateway, AccessMyHealth, Release of Information, PHSA records, proxy access, and record-request routes.	Use for patient records, caregiver proxy access, and document requests.
Health Gateway	BC’s provincial patient portal for health records, hospital visits, medications, lab results, and related information.	Use for provincial health-record access.
AccessMyHealth	Online access to some electronic health record information for eligible PHSA/VCH/Providence patients.	Use for appointments, results, messages, documents, and proxy access where eligible.
HealthLink BC	8-1-1 health advice, nurse/dietitian/pharmacist navigation, and BC health-service information.	Use for non-emergency health advice and service navigation.
TransLink	Transit trip planning, bus, SkyTrain, cycling, and HandyDART information for Metro Vancouver.	Use to plan travel to Oak Street campus.

Independent guide notice: This website is not BC Children’s Hospital, PHSA, HealthLink BC, AccessMyHealth, Health Gateway, TransLink, or an emergency medical service. Always use official hospital, clinic, emergency, or care-team instructions for medical decisions.

BC Children’s Hospital FAQs

These questions cover address, phone, pediatric emergency care, appointments, referrals, medical records, parking, visitor planning, interpreter support, and caregiver preparation.

1. What is the address of BC Children’s Hospital?

BC Children’s Hospital is listed at 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1. Some specialty clinics and patient handouts may show building-specific addresses on Oak Street, so always follow your appointment letter or clinic instructions.

2. What is the main phone number for BC Children’s Hospital?

The main hospital phone number is 604-875-2345. A toll-free number, 1-888-300-3088, is also listed for families calling from outside the local area.

3. Is BC Children’s Hospital Emergency Department open 24 hours?

Yes. HealthLink BC lists the Emergency Department as open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For life-threatening symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.

4. Do I need a referral for BC Children’s Hospital clinics?

Many specialty clinics require a referral from a doctor, nurse practitioner, midwife, or another care provider. Check the official clinic page or ask your referring provider before trying to book directly.

5. How do I change or cancel a BC Children’s appointment?

Call the clinic number listed on your appointment letter or clinic instructions. Have the child’s name, date of birth, appointment date, clinic name, and reason for changing the appointment ready.

6. How do I access my child’s BC Children’s Hospital records?

Records may be available through Health Gateway and AccessMyHealth. Parents or caregivers may need proxy authorization to access a child’s electronic health record. For full records or formal release, use the Health Information Management request process.

7. Is parking available at BC Children’s Hospital?

Yes. Paid parking is available on campus. Official parking information also describes valet service at selected entrances, accessible parking stalls, transit options, and parking-support contacts. Rates and rules may change, so check the official parking page before visiting.

8. Are interpreter services available at BC Children’s Hospital?

HealthLink BC lists interpreter services as available. Tell the clinic or care team as early as possible if your family needs interpretation for an appointment, procedure, admission, or discharge discussion.

9. Can parents or caregivers stay with a child in hospital?

Family presence and visitor rules depend on the unit, patient condition, infection-control needs, and current hospital policy. Ask the unit or care team about overnight caregiver presence, sibling visits, and current visitor rules.

10. What should I bring to a BC Children’s Hospital visit?

Bring the child’s health card, appointment letter, medication list, allergy list, recent records, referral notes, assistive devices, feeding or equipment details, legal guardianship papers if relevant, and written questions for the care team.