- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
St. Paul's Hospital
Category: Health and Medical Hospitals Hospitals [Edit]
1081 Burrard StVancouver, BC V6Z
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(604) 682-2344
- By Appointment Only:
- No
8 reviews for St. Paul's Hospital
8 reviews in English
-
Review from Amanda L.
12/21/2011
I had the misfortune of fainting in a nightclub due to a party fail that led me to have a huge bleeding wound in my leg and was surprised at how well I was treated by the paramedics, nurses and doctors.
I was stuck in a bed in the ER hall for hours but I was the only drunk patient not passed out so they put me at the back so my friend could stay with me which was considerate. The paramedic and nurse were so patient despite me panicking every time they came near me with a needle! I don't do needles well when sober and certainly don't want them near me when I am drunk, I have had drunk hospital visits before at other hospitals and the nurses were very intolerant to my needle anxiety to the point of mocking me.
As usual stuff like X-rays (and I assume other major tests) take awhile if your low on the priority list which I unfortunately was since I just had a cut and trampled foot but this is to be expected in any ER. -
Review from Jasmine O.
Vancouver, BC
1/9/2012
What great service they gave me at 1130pm on a Friday night when I stumbled in from a bar I shouldn't have gone to with the fear of a broken face... I really thought they'd put me in with the drug addicts and drunks who show up there daily. I passed that room and followed the black line to the fast track rooms and was treated well and as fast as they could.. got my xrays and was on my way. I felt cared for and appreciated. Thank goooodnesss...
-
Review from Brandon S.
12/8/2010
On a recent trip north of the border for a little last chance vacation before we welcome a new member to our family, I had the pleasure of experiencing the Canadian health care system up and close and personal when I landed in St. Paul's Hospital for three nights with heart trouble. Luckily it was just a viral infection and nothing chronic and I'm totally fine now, but ending up in the emergency room and the cardiac care unit with what looked like a heart attack isn't a fun way to spend a vacation.
First stop: the emergency room at 4:00 AM. First of all, the intake was very unfriendly and somewhat adversarial, but I totally understand, usually it's just drunks and narcotics seekers so making the act of coming to the emergency room a pain in the ass makes a lot of sense. They are just trying to weed out the problems.
Once in the emergency room, I had a tough as nails nurse that treated me decently, but again had that skeptical look. Who can blame her? Down the hall was a girl moaning at the top of her lungs that just simply was too drunk. Next to me was a guy that claimed he only had two drinks but had a blood alcohol of someone that had had 15. Another guy claiming to have chest pains boned out once he realized there would be no narcotics in it for him. I heard from across the room "is this the first time you've used ecstasy?" And my poor nurse had to manually help a drunk pee. All in a days work in a downtown party hospital like St. Paul's, so I can understand why I didn't get the cuddly treatment at first.
But eventually my blood work and ECG came back and it looked like I had had a heart attack and she switched from hardcore no-nonsense babysitter to super professional healthcare giver. The only time I was ever scared was when I saw her actually looked concerned. If SHE looked concerned, then perhaps I was in trouble.
After having a look into my heart, I was cleared of the heart attack but since what I had was viral I needed some time and rest to get better. So I ended up in the cardiac care unit. For the most part, my nurses up there were great - friendly, helpful and accommodating. It helps that I was one of the healthiest and least trouble patients that they had seen in quite a while, though.
As far as the doctors go, St. Paul's is a teaching hospital so I saw my fair share of residents and fellows as well as cardiologists. The fellows in particular were all really nice. It helps that my wife is a family doctor herself, so I think they treated us a little bit better.
As for amenities, there aren't TV's in the rooms and you have to pay for them to bring you this super janky, little tiny TV. It was worth it since I was bored out of my mind but couldn't focus on any reading. Also, no public wifi but one of my nurses logged us into the secure network which was really nice of her and totally helpful. And the food was beyond awful. Granted I was on the "heart healthy" menu but I just about lost it when they brought me a bowl of nasty oatmeal and stewed prunes for breakfast. Thankfully my wife brought me Donair King for lunch.
Overall, St. Paul's is what I expect out of an older, downtown, underfunded hospital. I do think I got really good care from the dedicated staff even if it wasn't the prettiest or most comfortable hospital I've ever stepped foot in.
However, if you are on vacation I would still suggest not getting sick and ending up there if you can. Your hotel room is probably a million times better. -
Review from Gina I.
1/5/2011
After spending my days going in and out of this hospital (I didn't stay, just had to keep coming back for tests).. I have to say that I am impressed with the service I received from the Dr's and the nurses. They were patient with me as well.
Though, the intake people weren't as nice. They gave me bad directions twice through the hospital and I sat there standing like an idiot while 3 of their windows were 'open' and I finally walked up and was told to "WAIT".. Umm, I was? Sheesh!
The Dr I had was a younger woman and she was really awesome. I can't remember her name right now, but man I wish she was MY Dr!
In the end, I got diagnosed and all was well! -
Review from Raymond O.
Vancouver, BC
8/23/2010 4 Check-ins Here
I've had good and bad service experiences over at St. Paul's Hospital.
The worse I've experienced are the people at the Emergency admittance. It's an emergency, people! Why the attitude?
The reason they are getting a generous 3 stars is due to the great people at the Maternity section. Day and Night shift staff are the best over here. Their help in sincere and will do what they can whatever time of day.
With that said, the hospital is old. It looks old and the equipment are old. This hospital harkens back to places in 3rd-world countries which by the way have hospitals that look like hotels already. This hospital looks like a, umm. hospital. Which should be a "duh", but shouldn't look like this. Think about it, the last place you want to feel like you're sick and in need of help is by being in a place that mimics exactly THAT.
Oh, and cable TV and telephone are both paid service. Thank God for mobile phones. That solves the telephone. For internet, well you'll have to do internet tethering with you're phone so that solves that as well. As for cable TV, it's provided by the Hospitality Network. We signed up for the supposed "Premium TV" service at $17.36/day (after taxes and a one-time administration fee and all we got is a lame 10" screen fit for one person to see. Maybe if it was the year 1980, this would be an acceptable cost of luxury. But not thirty years later. Oh, and what activation fee was that when a lady went in the room with a remote control to turn on the service. How about activating in an automated manner so we can extend, upgrade, downgrade or cancel the service ourselves.
This hospital needs to keep up with the times and do a revamp. It's long overdue. -
Review from Megan S.
1/26/2009
St Paul's is a great place to volunteer. No matter what you're comfort level- you can work directly with patients or just in the gift shop.
The process for volunteering is to go to the orientation, fill out an application, and meet with one of the coordinators. They'll tell you what positions they're looking for currently (and at sister hospitals too). They do ask for a 3 month commitment.
Great opportunity and great location. -
Review from Victoria R.
BC
1/25/2009
St. Paul's on Burrard is an older looking, medium sized hospital with a brown brick covering and a few wings to get your health checks all ready and done with. I know they see a lot of homeless and downtown cases, I always hear the ambulances go by late at night. My mom went to get some CAT scan and screenings done here and I know they have a large ER and other clinic inside. The downtown's only hospital, it's a great facility to have access to.
-
Review from Carol D.
Vancouver, BC
9/14/2010
I was early for an appointment at the hospital and thought I would check out the gift shop. I was expecting something pretty awful like most hospital shops but this one is terrific. They had an excellent selection of items from rocks with hopeful words engraved on them (only $2.99) some great jewellry and these nifty solar garden trucks whose headlights come on at night. Honestly, go early to any appointments and take your VISA. The volunteers were helpful and all the money goes towards patients (I asked it doesn't say) .
