Toronto Western Hospital

You have a right to be very afraid of the Toronto Western hospital!
Saturday morning my partner and I were bullied, threatened and traumatized by Toronto Western hospitals «Security Force». Personal medical information was demanded from us before the facilitys «guard» would get someone to help us. Two hundred and eighty five counts of «patient information leaks in the last eighteen months» and the hospital has no idea how this is happening? We were told that if we didn’t «comply» with the guards request we would be escorted off of the property, denied medical attention, and not allowed back to the hopital «ever». At this point let me remind you that a Toronto hospital has already had to settle a two point one million dollar law suit because a guard attacked a visitor and broke three of that persons ribs and their arm. How many people have to get hurt before some action is taken. This happened to us four days ago and I am still shaken.
Is this a result of going to Texas to get the new CEO for the UHN? Do we need to remind Pistol Pete Pisters and his rootin tootin board of directors that this is not the wild wild west? Let me also remind people that these «security guards» are not there to help the sick or the injured in any way. Full body armour, handcuffs, a skull crushing «flashlight» carried during bright daylight hours? These tools are to be used on «you» the public. Who else are they going to use them on? Doctors? Nurses? Think about it! They work for the hospital and its board of directors, NOT YOU!
Amazingly, the people we encountered once inside the hospital were «excellent»! Absolutely first rate and very impressive, nurses, doctors, the entire staff was caring, courteous, professional and a credit to medicine. I cannot say enough great things about them.
So maybe we can ask Dr Peter Pisters to «tone down», «reel in» or at least «get a handle» on this situation before someone else is put in phyisical or emotional distress. It will be interesting to see if anything is done to resolve this issue. All you have to do is drive by the Western hospital on Bathurst street and see if S.W.A.T is still on patrol.

My son is here recovering after major surgery. There have been complications and the nurses and doctors have been amazing! They are allowing us to stay with him all day and have answered all of our questions honestly and patiently. Dr. Stephen Lewis his surgeon has gone out of his way to make my son’s recovery as easy as possible. He visited my son on his day off! I was so thankful for that. It’s still early in the process but we are extremely happy with the care we have been shown here. Wonderful hospital!

Minimal wait time, great staff and thorough procedures. I was in the ER as a patient and after being other ERs (not as a patient) this was a pleasant experience.

I’m guessing people coming from two types of experiences are rating this hospital. Some for something minor, or for a small period and others who experienced this hospitals specialties and had to have many appointments or stays. I am sorry to hear some people had bad stays or appointments here. But I really believe this is the best neuroscience centre there is. The doctors, surgeons and nurses have been incredible at working to help stop my seizures, and I will be getting surgery soon that I know will go well. If you are coming here for anything neuro-​related, you are very lucky. I guess some other clinics need work, but there is no way you can say this is a bad hospital.

Growing up in Mississauga, I was spoiled by living near a really great Hospital, and unfortunately now that I live downtown I can say I now have visited the worst hospital of my life.
Long wait times in the ER, rude receptionists and attendants and nurses that give you the feeling they hate their jobs and don’t want to be there. Even when you are there, people refuse acknowledge you.
Unless you have been shot, stabbed or in a horrific car accident you will be waiting a very long time in the ER, and follow up visits are just as bad. Tip… if you are injured or need medical attention, go on a Monday morning when it is slower. If you go here on a weekend or during the week after 4pm you will be waiting for hours.

Neuroscience here is as good as it gets, with some of the world’s leading neuroscientists and health professionals. Can only comment from Neuro-​related POV, though.

My husband was in for spinal surgery in the east wing and I entered and left ever day by way of emergency. Yes, the other writer is correct in saying that to EXiT from within the hospital back to emergency it does have a sign saying no admittance except if you are personnel. In my experience sometimes you can break a rule and later plea ignorance. How would anyone in emergency know that just down the hall and around a corner you would find a food court and Tim Horton’s? Toronto Western is very tolerant of street people. They cannot stay by day in the place they sleep, they wander the streets and look for warm and comfort. I’m not being judgmental but some of these people lack in personal hygiene. I always took the time to say hello or just smile. This hospital serves thousands of people and you will find rude and you will find the kindest people on the earth. BTW you can park for one hour on Nassau Street and unlimited hours from 6 p.m. To 12:00 a.m. On Wales Avenue. Drive east on Nassau south on Bellevue and west onto Wales. It’s tricky as these are one way streets​.St. Andrew St. In Kensington Market has a green P four level lot which costs $ 5.50 from 7 a. m to 6 p.m. and $ 4.00 from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. It is a 8 minute walk to emergecy entrance.

Toronto Western Hospital is the worst hospital I’m had the misfortune to stay overnight at. The nurses in the morning and early evening shift in the Emergency Ward were rude and condescending. It’s my first time overnight at a hospital and I needed to used the washroom a couple times during the 14 hour ordeal. Naturally I will need to releave myself which requires removing the monitor sensors attached to my chest area. The nurse blurted that I don’t know how to removed them properly which is by the extension cable connector –if you mentioned that at the beginning I wouldn’t be doing it wrong. You have to buzz multiple times to get assistance.
By contrast the late-​night male nurse was actually pretty good tempered and polite in comparison.

I noticed this place is really amazing for neuro or ortho… But definitely not women’s issues. Have a broken bone, or numbness in a limb? This hospital will go above and beyond. They’re caring, attentive, explorative, and don’t rush you out the door. For a woman’s issue, they’ll give you a Tylenol and tell you they need your bed for the homeless person who needs to fill their oxy prescription.

For a downtown hospital it is lovely. Great eating area. Easy to get around the hospital without feeling like you are walking around in circles. I come here with clients and for my spinal study program. When I’ve had to ask where something is the volunteers and staff are always friendly.

The hospital is clean and organize. But waiting time is forever!!! Had to go to the er and it took 3 hours. When the nurse call for my follow up appointment. I didn’t get to see the doctor 2.5 hours later. Make sure u bring a book and a waterbotttle with u.

Always professional, always seen in a reasonable amount of time (considering it’s an emergency unit).

When I fell off the thread mill… stop laughing… I was referred to TWH’s hand clinic. The clinic occupies one of the building’s entire second floor with its own registration desk, a set of physiotherapists and doctors.
The intern was juvenile (meaning bad) but the doctor that saw me was excellent. I was in pain so I could not get their names and could understand only half of what they were saying. I was on therapy for five months and my physiotherapist taught me several hand exercises to help me move my hands again.
You need a blue card for every visit but if you lost it, you can go on the first floor and request for a new one. For free. Line is about 20 minutes though…
This hospital also has one of the best neurologists. I see a neurologists here and always give me enough information on what to do.
Will I come back? I hope not! I don’t intend to get sick the next few weeks, or few years.
Those threadmills are dangerous. You’ve been warned.

Coming from Northern Ontario, the lobby foot traffic was incredible, but once you get up on the clinic floors (we were in neurosurgery) the atmosphere is calm & relaxed. I must say I’m a veteran of the bad old days (mid 90’s) at various Toronto hospitals and clinics and must say that they’ve done a good job in making the clinics a much more relaxed atmosphere.
Clinic and Doctor, top notch, looking forward to surgery in a few months so we can do a review then on the whole process, not just the intitial appointment

This is my first time interacting with the Canadian medical system, and it was quite interesting.
I went to the emergency room because I was having sharp pains in my knee. I hobbled in, and it was not obvious on what I needed to do. I was asked by the security guard if I was visiting someone or if I needed to see a doctor. I told him that i needed to see a doctor, and I was told to wait for the triage nurse. The state of the waiting room is pretty horrible. The chairs are falling apart and the smell was bad.
The experience with the staff was good. I was seen by the triage nurse within 15 – 20 minutes. While waiting to get registered, I went to use the washroom. I couldn’t believe how disgusting it was. Now I knew where the smell in the waiting room was coming from. Mind you, the washroom is down the hall from the waiting area. Why is the washroom so gross in a hospital?! There wasn’t even soap to wash your hands! Doesn’t good health start with cleanliness???
Anyway, the service I received was good. I was seen by a doctor in a very reasonable amount of time. It’ll be interesting to see what my bill will be since I’m not a Canadian citizen and I have health coverage in the states.
I was incredibly put off by the cleanliness of the place. I have never been in a hospital so unsanitary.

It’s hard to categorize an entire hospital based on specific individual experiences, so I’m really going to comment more on the system at Emergency.
My dad went in for something minor, but at the time I wasn’t 100% sure. It took me a bit to find the Emergency department because from the main north entrance, the signs lead you to a set of double doors non staff can’t get into. I spent the next few minutes trying to find an alternate route from inside. I finally gave up and went around from the outside.
It was the weekend, and the waiting area seemed normally full. I couldn’t find my father which meant he was being seen inside. I know my way around hospitals as I used to work at one. I go to try and get in but the door is locked.
The security guard comes running over to ask me where I was going. He wasn’t rude, but very stern. I explained to him I was trying to find my father. He gave me a visitor sticker and told me to get in line at the registration desk.
After a patient leave they call in another patient from the waiting area. How was I supposed to get in? Did that mean I needed to get a number just to get to the registration desk?
After 5 minutes of wait, a paramedic arrives and heads in the emerge unit with a stretcher, and I just follow.
After getting in, I know patient names are usually posted on a board indicating their bed number. But I couldn’t find my dad’s name. I try my best to get the ward clerk’s attention without being demanding, but she did everything she could to not see me. Eventually after a minute or so she finally acknowledges me, and with a long sigh tells me where he is.
The nurse and doctors were fine, and even the overall wait time was acceptable, but the process just to get in, and the overall experience is just so discouraging.
I know staff have it hard, I’ve been on the other end, but they have to be aware especially in that department that they’ll get concerned family desperately trying to find their loved ones. From having to pay $ 8 an hour for parking, not being able to easily get in or locate a patient, then getting served by some people who obviously would be somewhere else is disappointing.

I went to the emergency room because I was having very bad period cramps. They were so bad I was throwing up. I was in agony and I didn’t know what to do. So I took a cab to the ER.
The intake was fine. Not friendly but not rude. She took my temp and blood pressure and put a thing on my finger all at the same time without telling me what she was going to do. That was a bit strange.
I waited a while and eventually saw a doctor. It was a male doctor who said «so it’s just period cramps?» I explained that it was abnormal for me to be throwing up due to cramps but he was useless. He wanted to do an internal exam. I said «I am bleeding.» He said, that is fine. A young gay male nurse came over and gave me a cup to pee in. I went in the washroom wearing a flimsy gown and pissed into the cup.
There was no one else in the ER at that time, I was the only one in the waiting room when they brought me in. I came out of the washroom and overheard the gay male nurse say to another person working something to the effect of «on period bleeding internal nasty».
I glared at him and he looked shocked and embarrassed.
I should have made this young gay male nurse come assist on my internal exam so that my «nasty» bloody vagina would haunt his dreams.
I left before the internal exam and didn’t bother to wait for the pee to come back. (They were doing a pregnancy test.) I yelled as I was leaving. «You’ve got my number call me if I’m pregnant.»
Totally unprofessional.

Wow, I can’t believe no one has written on Toronto Western Hospital. It’s a busy, busy place. My review isn’t because i was there myself; it’s because my dad was there but I was visiting him almost every day for about a week. He was in the internal medicine department where the doctors were very friendly and, despite being super busy (I’m sure doctors are super busy all the time in hospitals), always followed up on my questions about my father’s condition.
It’s not a bad place to have to spend time if you have to go visit someone who’s in there. There’s a few decent places downstairs including a timothy’s in the lobby where you can grab a latte.
The lobby did have a funny smell the whole time I was in and out of there. Not sure what it was, but it wasn’t particularly ‘hospital’ smell, and more like something was ‘off’.
But if there’s a hospital to go to in the city, this is one that seems to really care about their patients. I’m sure, considering how many people are in and out, it’s not always consistent, and my experience is but one, but my experience was good.