The safety of our patients, residents, visitors and families is our top priority. North York General Hospital (NYGH) continues to closely monitor COVID-19 and has implemented enhanced changes across the organization. Below, you will find frequently asked questions for patients and visitors about what to do if you are coming to the hospital.
Yes, it is safe to receive care at North York General. We are taking all necessary precautions to protect patients. Staff, physicians and learners are wearing Personal Protective Equipment and patients can be cared for in special isolation rooms if necessary.
The Charlotte & Lewis Steinberg Emergency Department (ED) is open and continues to provide care for urgent needs. All patients will be screened for COVID-19 when they arrive, and will be isolated if needed. We do our best to provide high quality care whether your symptoms are related to COVID-19 or any other medical emergency.
Yes, to help reduce of the spread COVID-19, North York General Hospital is offering testing by appointment only.
Please read more about the testing criteria before booking your appointment.
Branson Assessment Centre
555 Finch Ave.W (North Entrance)
Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
*North York General is offering testing by appointment only. Please only book an appointment for a COVID-19 test if you meet one of the required criteria.
Book your test online or call 416-635-2509 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon to book your appointment over the phone.
As part of our COVID-19 measures, there is one designated entrance into the hospital (unless going to the emergency department or Assessment Centre). These changes help protect our patients and health care providers.
Please use the South entrance as the designated entry and drop-off point.
To exit the hospital or pick someone up, please use the West lobby doors only.
North York General is providing masks to everyone entering the hospital. Please note if you are wearing gloves, we will kindly ask you to remove them, as we want to ensure no outside germs are coming into the hospital.
While inside the hospital please follow the safety measures in place to protect you:
All patients who have a confirmed in-person appointment at the hospital will be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 prior to their appointment. You may be contacted ahead of your appointment to answer screening questions over the phone.
When you arrive at the hospital you will be screened at the South entrance. Our screeners will ask if you have any symptoms or if you have travelled or been in contact with someone who has travelled. If you are feeling unwell, please call your healthcare provider ahead of your visit to discuss next steps.
Yes, you must bring your health card to every appointment.
In order to protect patients and frontline health care providers during the current COVID-19 pandemic only patients who have a confirmed appointment are allowed inside the hospital. We understand how upsetting this may be, but it is necessary to keep your loved ones safe.
If you require special assistance, please contact your physician’s office and request to have one support person accompany you. This request will only be granted for patients who require assistance. You and your support person will need to show photo identification (i.e. driver’s license).
To protect the health of patients and health care providers from the spread of COVID-19, the government of Ontario directed all hospitals to postpone all non-urgent outpatient clinical appointments, if safe to do so, and rescheduled.
See our list of clinic changes.
Where possible we are offering telephone and virtual care. If you have questions, please contact the clinic directly. Learn more about virtual care visits.
Please note, all emergency and urgent services remain open.
Yes, it is safe to deliver your baby at NYGH.
Please note that we have made the difficult decision to move to a “no visitor” policy except in exceptional circumstances. There is a limit of one- dedicated visitor per patient in the Labour and Delivery and Maternal Newborn areas.
If you arrive at the hospital in active labour, please enter through the Charlotte & Lewis Steinberg Emergency Department. Please read this important information if you are delivering at NYGH.
The Maternal, Newborn and Paediatric Care Program has compiled a list of resources for parents and families to support their children during this pandemic. Visit the COVID-19 Resources page for more information.
Virtual Family Visits are being offered to patients/ residents and their loved ones as a Patient- and Family-Centred Care initiative during COVID-19. We are using virtual visits to reduce the number of people in the hospital. During a virtual visit you do not come to the hospital to meet in person. Instead, you speak with your care team using a telephone, smartphone or your computer. At the General site, Virtual Family Visits are approximately 20 minutes long and can be booked in advance online. We are using Microsoft Teams and FaceTime to connect virtually. For other NYGH sites, please connect directly with the unit.
NYGH will provide you with information regarding your medications, instructions for post-surgery/appointment and follow-up care. You can also connect with your primary care physician if you have any questions.
For prescriptions, we have a retail pharmacy where you can fill your prescription.
Yes, the Outpatient Pharmacy is open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Before coming into the hospital, please call our pharmacy at 416-756-6752 to discuss the details regarding your request with our staff. Please note that access to the hospital is now limited and you will be screened before entering. If you have fever, chills, shakes, a new/worsening cough, shortness of breath and/or have traveled in the past 14 days please call our staff before visiting.
To reduce exposure to and transmission of a range of illnesses, including coronaviruses, you should follow usual health precautions during your stay at the hospital and when you return home:
Signage and tape have been placed in seating areas across the hospital to remind patients of physical distancing. As services begin to ramp up we have introduced additional seating with social distancing in our lobby spaces.
Starbucks (located in South lobby) and Tim Horton’s (first floor) remain open. Please pick up your food and remain six feet apart if eating in common areas.
We do not accept food deliveries from home or outside restaurants to in-patient floors.