North Bay Regional Health Centre

5 hour wait aside, when registering I was asked my marital status which is single. I did however want to add my partner as my emergency contact. Of course they assumed my partner was female, and once saying my partners name (a male name) they shook off the fact that they're my partner and told me that we're just "friends". I found this incredibly disrespectful. I'd recommend going to the telehealth clinic instead for things like antibiotics. The one other nurse that did help me was very kind and I really appreciated their help and attitude.

The NBRHC is one of the worst hospitals in Ontario. The wait times are horrendous, the staff do not care about priority patients, the porters are incompetent, and the doctors talk to you like children. I waited 12 hours during my second last visit and was never seen, so I left. Turns out I was having horrible asthma attacks and had a chest infection. This most recent visit is over 8 hours after being told it was urgent that I come in (symptomatic for appendicitis). And I haven't been seen by a doctor or gotten a single answer. Don't waste your time. Drive to Sturgeon Falls. They will treat you properly. NBRHC, please get better. You are hurting a lot of people.

First time i went to that hospital, At emerg i wait almost 7 hour + to see a doctor they dont care how serious the patient is.

When a clark sits on her phone and looks at you, asking: "What do you want? " June 28,2023. Caucasian lady, with black hair. Total jerk.

Came in at about 8: 20am with a 2-3 hour wait time listed. I was polite and patient, and knew everything about what was going on. All I needed was a prescription written. 4 hours later still haven't been seen by a doctor. Front desk staff were rude and unhelpful. Wait times were completely wrong, and as I've been sitting waiting all I can hear is the hospital staff discussing their personal lives and breaks. I'd be stunned if there was even 1 medical PROFESSIONAL in this hospital. This is what our tax dollars pay for? This is the worst hospital I've ever been in in my entire life.
Asked the hospital staff politely how much longer it would be and got rudeness and attitude. Extremely unprofessional and don't care about their patients at all. Also, when the doctor did come to see me, she was extremely rude and judgemental and arrogant. She wouldn't listen to any of my information and was condescending towards both me and my friend. I was made to feel humiliated and embarrassed. All I needed was a quick prescription. It took her 10 mins to have me out of the hospital, yet she sat and chatted about her personal life with her coworkers for over an hour and didn't do her job at all. With a 2-3 hour wait time and a simple 10 minute script to write, she deliberately wasted 4.5 lhours of my day. It would have been longer but I started saying to my friend very loudly that I would be contacting the Ontario ombudsman about the issues with the hospital and the staff and suddenly she came into the room within 5 minutes and had me out of the hospital 10 minutes later. WORST HEALTHCARE FACILITY IN ALL OF CANADA!

This place should be known as a business company rather than being called as a hospital. Charged me 2200 bucks for three visits. Great way to extort money.

Phoned to ask questions about an upcoming test, woman on phone was rude and telling me my doctor was lying.not impressed, and was extremely uncomfortable.

I had a badly broken leg so I crawled to the NBRHC. I sat in the ER Waiting Room so long, my leg healed up while waiting. I was freshly shaven when I got there but had a full beard when I walked out. Miracle or waste of a billion dollars? Why build something you cannot afford to run properly is my question.

On Wed. 22 Feb I attended at North Bay Regional Health Centre and wish to let your staff in Emergency know how well they all did. I don't know all of their names but from the outset, Triage Nurse "Nicholas" treated my wife and I very seriously and took us directly into an examining room to complete the required patient information, had bloodwork done and an EKG. Next Nurse "Felicia" settled me onto a gurney and hooked me to a monitor in a very friendly and professional manner. A very large "Gentle Giant" wheeled me into X-ray in a very friendly manner and returned me to Emergency when X-ray was completed. The bubbly young lady who operated the X-ray machine took no time at all to complete her duties. Final blood work was completed and Dr. Marsi delivered his diagnosis in a very honest and understanding manner, providing a prescription and follow up instructions. The pharmacist added the finishing touch by showing us to the Security office with our receipt and having our parking for free. All of this was accomplished in less than three hours. Very well done "Front Line Workers" Thank you so much. Ron Shortt

The staff at the front desk were rude to multiple people, wait times were painful and acessive. The doctors were very kind to me though, so I respect that

Best vasectomy I ever had. Doctor was a little handsy but that’s alright. Back in the Game in a week or two

This place is so useless. Long wait times every time, longest I've seen is 12h 7m. Almost no staff to help patients. Only way you're getting in without having to wait half the day is if you are in crit condition in an ambulance. I've been sitting in this waiting room in pain for around 5 hours, and there's no sign of having anyone see me anytime soon. Something needs to be done to make this hospital a LOT more efficient. I wish giving a 0 star was a thing.

What an absolute joke this hospital is, just over 6hrs and didn’t see anyone. I told them I was coughing up a bit of blood and they told me to “put it in a napkin” and give it to us. I ended up throwing the napkin out after holding it for 15 minutes waiting for the ladies to finish chatting.

I sat there, coughing, crying, trying to breathe watching people come in after us and get in to see the doctor…

My father was recently admitted to your hospital and had a week stay. I can say that the staff was extremely professional, caring, cheerful and amazing. He was so well treated and cared for that he felt at home and wants to say thanks to them all.

So slow! The wait times are bad! The doctor is slow! It's crazy they deserve 0 stars

My husband and I took our two girls (2 and 3.5 years old) into the hospital about a month ago for their coughs that were not going away, they were going on over two weeks having. The staff at this hospital treated my little girls like princesses. I was extremely impressed with how kind everyone was, they made sure the kids were comfortable and happy, whether it was giving them stickers or a stuffy at the end of their visit. Thank you North Bay Region Health Centre for your kindness and hard work xo

Overall, the care here is great, and because of outside funding, equipment has been purchased that allow North Bayites to stay at home instead of going elsewhere for many things. Unfortunately, wait times average several to many hours, just like most hospitals in Ontario now. Thank you, Doug Ford!

I Fell on the ice and got a severe concussion. From the ambulance emt's to the nurses doctors xray cat scan and mri techs my treatment was efficient excellent and compassionate. My husband was treated so well too. Reassuring and caring they kept him informed allowed him to stay with me throughout the whole time. They found me a bed for overtime observation and I again my treatment was exceptional. Cannot say how much i was impressed with my care thank you to all of you for your professional and compassionate competence care!

BRUTAL!
Wait times on the TV screen showed average wait time 2 hrs 23 mins. Max wait time showed 4hr. 9 hours later and still was not seen by a doctor. Had to bag and plea to the nurses to he reassessed to be offered 2 tylonol. The chairs have only made extreme stomach pain that much worse. Shame on you North Bay! Get rid of the TV screens that mean absolutely nothing and have some compassion for the patients that are in ALOT of PAIN!

Literally the worst hospital in North America! Lack of staff, long wait times… you might as well just succumb to your symptoms rather than waiting around this dump! Staff is impeccably rude and unprofessional.

Nurses not answering call buttons while sitting at the nurses station and not administering medication post op for hours while patient was in incredible pain. Limited post op care instruction provided. Staff did not even get patient to fill out a consent form.

Seeing first hand how truly broken our health care system is.priceless.

Cannot say enough positive about this hospital. Went while on vacation with my son who sustained a concussion. Stacy the CT tech was super reassuring and amazing, and the doctor we had, Dr. Blake was an absolute godsend. He was thorough, quick, and very straightforward. I appreciated his bedside manner and the hospital itself was organized, very clean and modern.

I went to the NBRHC with high ketone levels and was scared I could have diabetes, as I got diagnosed pre-diabetic and had other symptoms that were directly linked to diabetes. The nurse took my blood sugar, in which it came back normal. The doctor came to see me and started blaming me for not going to my family doctor, instead of the hospital. Accusing me of wasting her time when I genuinely thought I was in a health crisis. I’ve never felt so disregarded in my entire life and I’ve never experienced something so rude and insensitive. Most staff/doctors are amazing, but the lady I had, most definetly was not!

Terrible place, better die than to get help here. I was in so much pain and they made me wait for 7 hours and I was waiting for a doctor for another 2 hours. My " dorctor" was talking to everyone around and chilling almost a front of me. I didn't know she was my doctor at that time, I thought it was just lazy lady. By the way, home they sent me with pain and said to get pills. The worse place in North Bay if I would have opportunity I would give 0

I have to say that nobody ever likes going to the hospital for anything right but I can't really say that I had too much of bad in my experience with NBRHC unless I am already there because of bad health nothing's perfect and the staff do care and are very awesome!

My daughter had to seek treatment here, the nurses in ER were demeaning, and very disrespectful. They were laughing at her and mimicking her. They assumed she was ill from something she wasn't. They did not assess her and the Doctor in ER encouraged this treatment. She had to leave without being treated with IV fluids which in turn sent her back the next day, they yelled at her the whole time, would not treat her, She left. She is now in acute kidney failure from dehydration. She has Gastro. I am a nurse and I am disgusted on the behaviour of the ER nurses and doctors at the North Bay Regional Hospital. And yes this is being reported.

Fantastic experience with the diagnostic imaging and phlebotomy departments. Every staff member I encountered from the time I showed up at the front door was wonderful. Awesome hospital!

Went to Emergency Room due to extreme tooth pain. Wait times were long due to being very busy and we'll, it's the ER. However, the nurse who brought me in to take vitals said he might be able to take away the pain while I wait. Something learned at a seminar. (Tooth pain they usually can't to anything to immediately remove the pain). The nurse came back with a special kind of glue and applied to my tooth once dry and it instantly took the pain away.

The staff at this hospital are truly amazing and care about their patients. Just wish the hospital didn't keep taking advantage of these workers and expecting them to do so much more then they should have to just to save money.

Staff, absolutely awesome!

Very long waiting times and the staff was rude and disorganized. I hesitate having to go to the hospital.

My husband got a 3rd degree greases burn he was seen at the E. R. (minimum 3hr wait) where he was asssesssed and dressing applied, pictures were taken and sent to burn unit. He was told to return in about a week to change dresssing and re-assess for return to work or possible surgery. We returned a week later, they had NO record of type of dressing used or that he was to return for assessing. 5hr wait before he would be seen. VERY PROFESSIONAL! Its the only hospital so its not like we have a choice.

Have gotten a couple covid tests and both times the staff were very nice and I was in and out within ten minutes. I got (negative) results within 2 days both times.

No offense to anyone at the hospital in particular, but my son had eye surgery in Toronto due to lack of specialists locally.
Ge went to the emergency to get it checked, they did a quick exam and sent him home.
Whe the pain pinecaled, I drove him back.
He insisted to see the eye specialist (not so passive this time). The doctor (dr vejay, awsome dude by the way) came and ddntified a rental tear.
Brought him to Toronto again at the western hospital.
Thank you Dr vj. If not for your visit and recommendations son could have been blind in other eyes.
Thank you kind sir for saving my sons sight

Went here 4 times for a concussion that was more than obvious. Didn’t even check. Had impetigo at one point and knew it before them, they even didn’t check- just said it was a spider bite and sent me off with nothing

This is the worst experience I've ever had in my life and I've spent a lot of time in Hospital's. I wouldn't even give it a star but the lady doctor seem genuinely concerned when I started crying. 8 hours before seeing a dr. 8 EFFING HOURS!

What? The health unit is closed for the weekend in the middle of a crisis? Isn't this like shutting down a 'war' for the weekend?

The hospital isn't even capable of doing blood tests. Why on earth do we pay such high rates of taxes for such garbage services.

Nurses in paediatrics are horrible. They place my new born baby my fiancé and myself in this 10 by 5 room. And then proceeded to say that my fiancé needs to bottle feed instead of breast feeding and that latching isn’t going to work for her. I am so glad I am moving out of this hell whole of a city.

Thank you North Bay Regional staff for taking care of me! The nurses and other staff I had helping me after my injury and surgery were all awesome. On thanksgiving and forever. I’ll be thankful I was in great hands

October 1 I arrived at ER and within minutes saw a Nurse named Bob.caring and wonderful man! Quickly reacted to my state and I didnt wait more than minutes for my ECG.then I met Dr Wilkins! She listened to all my concerns and after months of frustrating neglect from my doctor I was quickly treated, blood work.prescription and i could finally say I felt cared for. I have the same GP for many years and have had to bipass and use ER a lot over the years.thank God for these wonderful doctors and nurses! Thank you Dr Wilkins!

On Thursday July 23 2020 I had a surgical procedure with Dr Kumar, I would like to commend the performance of the whole Team invovled, I would like to give special Tanks to Nurse Julie who put My I V in My hand, no pain, no bruising, no third or fourth try, She is a Pro and My suggestion is that She could give pointers to many others on this insertion without Trauma, Awesome Job done by all.

Staff are akin to dictators. Won't listen when you tell them to stop as the pain is unbearable, and also screw up constantly. My girlfriend would rather an infection than attend this hospital and deal with these horrible people. She could hear them talking and laughing about her from the hallway. Unprofessional, heartless and cruel. They are never held accountable, and strongly advise seek alternatives!

My partner went to the hospital for mental health support and they strapped him to a bed for 6 hours without giving him any food or water for the entirety of his stay, which was an overnight stay. He was suicidal and a danger to himself and they did not admit him to the psych ward for the minimum of 72 hours. This hospital is absolutely disgusting for how they treat mentally ill patients.

The NBRHC saved my mom's life after she contracted Flesh eating bacteria. She almost lost her arm and her life. But she kept her arm and now has full range of motion. This happened 8 years ago and I came to the hospital recently after I had a panic attack and wouldn't eat they treated me well and gave my mom suggestions to help me. I am doing amazing since then)

This place is a joke. 6 hour wait, everyone is rude, and the staff is incompetent. Maybe don't discuss your new bikini I front of clients while rudely telling them to wait more.

Amazing experience from physicians, nurses, and unit assistant in caring for my father who was admitted to the CCU. We are also very thankful to the E. R staff who also were caring towards him and my mother. The wait times are appropriate based on triaging of whether or not someone's symptoms are "emergency" qualified. Too many bad ratings in regards to this when it's a wonderful facility.

I'm a 69 year old man from Toronto recently moved, (2 months ago), to NB to retire. I am extremely impressed by the Healthcare in NB from both the Nurse Practitioner and the Hospital. They are very, professional, and thorough. Service is very quick!

I have some of the normal complaints of an older person, referred to the Hospital by my nurse practitioner, and have had two visits to the Hospital for tests, and follow up. I'd be still in a waiting room in Toronto if I were there!

Best Health Care in Canada!

I am well enough to now weighty review. I was into the emergency three times the beginning of the year. Walk-in once them twice by ambulance.
I never had a problem, the nurses and doctors were on the ball all the time. The nurses couldn't have been more accommodating. Any time I needed assistance they were there.
I could keep going on how well I was treated.
Now the reason I only gave 4 stars. The food was horrible. I know food in hospitals are never good but this was above horrible. I didn't expect a five star Restaurant but something palatable.

I went in to have my wisdom tooth looked at because the pain was unbearable. Told them my pain was 8 out of 10. Four hours later still no help. Total anguish by this point. Had to leave to get relief as I couldn't bear the pain anymore. No sympathy from this hospital. I do not recommend. Go to Mattawa or Sturgeon Falls and don't waste your time. Millions wasted in North Bay.

I wish I could give 2 separate reviews. I'm averaging my experience and giving 3 star. Because the regular departments and ER are way too different. Always had a good experience and helpful doctors and nurses, didn't take too long to get the service and I'd give 5 stars, but ER department is opposite, very slow. Maybe should educate patients that they don't need to come to the hospital's ER department with regular cold symptoms or just some headache. It's just very slow, prepare yourself, you'd stay there at least 4-5 hours to see a doctor.
Otherwise it's a nice hospital.

Horrible wait. Four hour wait when there was only three people ahead of me. Nurses were not helpful. When asking a question was talked down too. And they said they would be in in a minute and never came. After another 45 min wait. I left

I was in the psych ward do to a accidental overdose. I am not using my real name

The staff in this ward are cruel arrogent and disrespecful to patients.

They have specific hours a patient can ask questions. They did not give me access to my personal items
Appears most of them hate their jobs. One male nurse was.kind.

Head of psychiatry a tall female is extremely arrogent when I told her my meFIXEDmory from the night I came in she said that was s lie.

Discharged the next day. Feel this department should be monitored very carefully. They may be under staffed. Perhaps they could go under cover at a different hospital, evaluate
their proceduress. This hospital needs to be FIXED

I had ringworm so I went there and they told me to wait in the room and no one came before an hour.

Only took me 45 mins total to get ultrasound and x-rays done. Every person I interacted with was friendly and helpful and made me feel at ease and welcome. Lots of signs everywhere for directions as well.

By far the worst hospital in Ontario don't understand why they built this big hospital and say there getting more HITEC equipment for what the doctors and nurses can't even give someone a cortisone shot for some guy that just came in I say go to Sudbury if u need care this ain't the place they wasted millions for nothing

Are these people cold hearted zombies? It appears you have to be to enter this profession or work here at this hospital. Aside from the obvious completely unacceptable and unnecessary wait times, when you finally get checked in, you’re left to deal with nurses that seem to not care about you and doctors that don’t seem qualified.

Under staffed, wait times are ridiculous, ER staff more interested in chatting than working. I broke my foot in June and was given the wrong size boot in ER, complications with infection in my foot and 4 visits to the Ortho clinic during which nobody has yet to actually look at my foot. Xrays can only show the inside of the foot but the other issues with the foot went ignored.

Thank you to all the staff involved in the care of my little dude following a head injury. From the emerge docs/nurses and radiology staff to the peds nurses, peds residents, pediatricians, housekeeping, and lab techs; everyone was absolutely amazing and I am extremely appreciative to everyone for the care we received.

Worst hospital ever really rude staff and half the time they have no idea what there doing.whenever im there i always here nurse and dr drama outside the rooms very un perfesonal

The GOOD:

I've had three surgeries in the new hospital. All three were great successes and I marvel at today's technology. After being bed-ridden for over a year I had both knees replaced and the relief was almost miraculous! So I have high praise for the Doctors I've dealt with and some of the Nurses.

The BAD:

It seems to be luck of the draw when it comes to the nursing staff. In my experience I'd say one out of every six is a delight. The remaining five are usually fairly snotty and act like you are the last thing on their list of priorities.

Last Fall I brought my mom to Emergency when she fell on rocks and ended up with a large laceration on her forehead. We waited an incredible TEN AND A HALF HOURS! Before a Doctor finally saw her and stitched it up (which took another 45 min. - 1 hour). We had arrived there at 10: 00 a.m. And it was 9: 30 p.m. When we left. At around the nine hour mark I asked if it was acceptable for an 86-year old woman with a nasty laceration on her head to wait such a long time. I was told that, "yes, it is acceptable" and that it was "like that at every hospital. " Hahahaha!

NO, IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! And, it is NOT like that at every hospital. I know people that will drive to Sturgeon or Mattawa Emergency Departments rather than North Bay's.

The UGLY:

Because my issues were ones of mobility when I was a patient (I could not get out of the bed) I've actually had to PEE THE BED TWICE! And lay in that URINE! For as long as HALF AN HOUR before a nurse would finally respond to my call.

After it happened the first time, I asked them to leave the bedpan within my reach. It was very awkward to hoist myself onto it while lying in bed, but, that was the only option left to me so I didn't complain. The second time it happened was when one of the cleaning staff moved the bedpan out of my reach when I was asleep.

It wasn't as if I waited until the last minute to buzz, either.in both cases I had buzzed at least 30 - 45 min.before I just could not hold it any longer. There's nothing like laying in your own cold urine for half an hour to motivate you into leaving a one-star review!

CONCLUSION:

I am a reasonable person. I have never been a belligerent type of patient. I'm not sure why the competence and behaviour of the nursing staff is so lacking, but, it's a problem.

I would like to add that the Doctors and Nurses running the Wound Clinic are WONDERFUL and it is a pleasure to deal with them. Too bad they can't extend that professionalism to the rest of the Hospital.

It was slow but considering the government cutbacks.they are doing the best they can.the staff are overworked and understaffed

If I could give this hospital 0 stars for their night staff I would. The night staff of emergency were awful on March 8th, 3am -ish. I was violently ill and dehydrated. I don’t want to hear anything about under staffed.the waiting room was completely empty but I was still stuck until 7am for treatment. The nurses were rude and more interested in standing around their station gossiping. The only one who treated me decently & like a human was the lady who put my bracelet on. They refused to give me ice chips to wet my mouth. I had to run to the bathroom & run water to wet my mouth so I wouldn’t dry heave. The biggest insult was my nurses’ comment about how it wasn’t appropriate to have my child there.we’re military & don’t have anyone close by to rely on. It was purely ignorant. Easy to be ignorant & make comments when you don’t see the price, but someone pays for your taken for granted freedom. She had no business making comments when she has no understanding about our family dynamic & the challenges we face! They have all these signs about respect, well respect goes both ways!
The day staff on the other hand is a 5! My husband even commented coming back you could tell a big difference!

Waited many hours and then finally spoke to a young man, dr edie. I won’t go into the specifics but I was shocked by the disrespectful way that he talked to me. He failed to listen. My family member sees dr gleeson at northern shores and said she is just as terrible. Well done North Bay.