Aerial view of Vancouver General Hospital Campus

The VGH ICU is the trauma centre of the province where very ill or injured patients receive specialized care 24 hours a day.

How to access

  • Languages

    ​English. Translation services are available.

  • Visiting the ICU

    You may visit anytime except during nurse shift change which is from 7:30 am to 8:30 am and from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Your visit may be delayed during doctors' teaching rounds, patient care and procedures. 

    Visitors at the bedside are limited to 2 from the immediate family (spouse, significant other, parents, siblings, patient's children or support person). Shorter and more frequent visits are encouraged for the patient’s care, well-being, and yourselves. 

    Exceptions can be made to facilitate family presence based on the patient’s condition.

  • Contact

    You are welcome to call for updates anytime. Please ask for the nurse looking after your loved one.

    • Beds 1-7: (604) 875-4232
    • Beds 8-20: (604) 875-4275
    • Beds 21-30: (604) 75-4525
    • Beds ICU BL 5-8: (604) 875-4232
    • Social Work: (604) 875-4956
    • Spiritual Care: (604) 875-4151

Hours of operation

Currently open

We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Getting to the VGH ICU & nearby services

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is located on the second floor of the Jim Pattison Pavilion (North) at 855 West 12th Avenue in Vancouver. 

Parking

We suggest you drop off your elderly family members before searching for parking. Find parking near the VGH ICU on Google maps, or download the VGH map and parking PDF.

You may find two-hour, free parking between Oak and Granville streets (southwest of the hospital) and between West 12th and West 20th avenues. Read the signs before you park. Parking attendants survey the area regularly and there are many blocks designated for residents only.

Public transit

A number of buses run along Broadway including: 99 B-Line, 17 Downtown and the 9 Alma/Boundary. The closest skytrain is the Canada Line at Cambie Street  and Broadway. Visit the Translink website for routes and more information.

Accommodations

See a Google map of nearby places to stay.

Drugstores

There is a Shoppers Drug Mart on Broadway. The easiest way is down the hill out of the emergency entrance, which leads to West 10 Avenue.

Food & drink services

  • Cafeterias - The main hospital cafeteria is located on the 2nd floor of the Jim Pattison Pavilion (via the 3rd floor of the Leon Judah Blackmore Pavilion) at the end of the ICU hallway. 
  • Cafés - Café Ami is located at the main entrance of the Jim Pattison Pavilion on the 1st floor, near the information Centre and the gift shop. Zookaz and Starbucks are located in the Diamond Centre. Tim Hortons is located on Broadway across from the Park Inn. 
  • Restaurants - There are numerous restaurants that offer a variety of food on Broadway.
  • Grocery store or food court - There is a Safeway and Kins Farm Market located in City Square Mall at Cambie and 12th Avenue. City Square Mall also has a food court.

 

Banking

There are two ATMs in the hospital. One is located on the 1st floor of the Jim Pattison Pavilion near the gift shop. The second is located outside the main entrance to the Sassafras cafeteria on the 2nd floor of the Jim Pattison Pavilion. 

Be prepared for your ICU visit

  • You are encouraged to visit and are asked to remain flexible with visitation times as the patients require a great deal of care during this critical time. 
  • Please use either of the white phones located at the end of each hallway outside the ICU doors to call for authorization to visit.  
  • During times of care you may be asked to wait while the care team finishes their care. 
  • Please DO NOT enter the unit without authorization as you may compromise the care for your loved one or other patients. 
  • Please leave the unit when asked to leave the bedside and keep clear of the double doors on either end of the unit as these exits are also used to move patients to the Operating Room, tests/scans and/or during transfers. 
  • Public washrooms are located halfway down the ICU hallway, and at the end of the hallway near the cafeteria doors. 
  • Please DO NOT push on the doors or try to force them open. Call in to gain access to the unit and wave at the black plate on the wall to exit.

Resources

    • Getting to know The Intensive Care Unit brochure

    • Donate

      Received excellent care and want to give back? Make a donation to the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation.

Vancouver General Hospital (VGH)

Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) offers specialized health-care services to residents in Vancouver and across the province through regional programs. We provide a full range of basic and highly specialized emergency health-care and trauma services to British Columbia.

Intensive Care Units (ICU)

Intensive care units are areas in hospitals where very ill or injured patients receive specialized care 24 hours a day.