Coming for clinic appointments
Getting to The Hospital for Sick Children
The Hospital for Sick Children, also known as SickKids, is located in downtown Toronto at 555 University Avenue, between Gerrard and Elm streets. The main entrance to the hospital is in the Atrium at 170 Elizabeth Street (the first street east of University Avenue). See: for more information.
For information on how to get here by TTC call 416-393-4636. For GO Transit information call 416-869-3200. If you are driving and need directions please call the hospital at 416-813-8600.
To reach the hospital operator, call 416-813-1500.
Parking
See Parking
Helpful hint. Be on time.
Please allow lots of time to get to the hospital. It can take some time to get used to finding your way around and it is important to be on time for your child’s appointment. Staff will try to see your child as close to your appointment time as possible.
Please understand that some patients being seen ahead of you may need more time than expected, and this can cause delay for others.
What to do if your child or any of your family members or friends are not well
Call the clinic if you or your child have had a cold, cough, diarrhea, fever or rash within the last two days, or have been sick with, or exposed to, chicken pox in the last 3 weeks.
Your appointment may need to be cancelled and rescheduled for another time.
Please tell your doctor at SickKids or the nurse who admits you if your child has stayed in a hospital outside of Canada within the last 12 months.
If you need to change or cancel your child’s appointment
If your child is unable to attend the appointment, please call the clinic as soon as possible to cancel and reschedule for another time.
Try not to bring other children to the clinic
If other children must come, please consider taking them to the Play Park during your visit. The Play Park, on the main floor of the Atrium, is a free service providing a fun and
safe place for patients, brothers and sisters over 2 1/2 years old to play.
Trained staff and volunteers will watch your children carefully. Call 416-813-8884 for more information and for Play Park hours of operation.
Remember to arrange for after-school and lunchtime care for brothers and sisters at home and please allow for extra time as sometimes clinic appointments run later than scheduled.
Bring the following to your child’s appointment
Please see what to bring to hospital
Ontario health card
The Ministry of Health requires that we check your child’s Ontario health card every time you visit. If your child does not have a valid Ontario health card, you are required to pay for his or her care before your clinic visit. You can do this at the Business Office, located on the main floor near Shoppers Drug Mart.
For more information on the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), please call the ministry INFOline at 1-800-268-1154 (toll-free in Ontario only). In Toronto, call 416-314-5518. The TTY line is 1-800-387-5559.
Latex allergies
Call the clinic before coming to the hospital if your child or anyone coming with him or her has a known or suspected allergy to latex.
No smoking is allowed
Please note that smoking is not allowed in the hospital or within 9 metres, or 27 feet, of hospital entrances.
Accessibility
All visitor entrances on the main floor are wheelchair accessible.
SickKids has several wheelchair-accessible washrooms on the main floor. Both male and female washrooms in the Atrium have large change tables where children and teens can have diapers changed. There is another private wheelchair-accessible washroom with a large change table on the service floor of the Black Wing in room S213, across the hall from Rehabilitation Services.
A TTY set can be borrowed from the Information Desk in the Atrium for anyone requiring hearing assistance.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding/Pump Rooms are located on the main floor in room M464 close to the Black Wing elevators and on the 5th floor, Atrium, room 5703. If you have any questions please call 416-813-6997.
Interpreter Services
If you need an interpreter, please speak with your child’s nurse or doctor as soon as possible so they can call Interpreter Services to arrange for an interpreter. Please give us at least 24 to 48 hours notice to make it easier for us to find an interpreter for you.
AboutKidsHealth Family Resource Centre
Staff and volunteers can help you find health information on parenting and safety issues, and community resources. They can also help you find information about your child’s diagnosis or illness. Call 416-813-5819 or drop by the centre, which is on the main floor in room M200, close to Shoppers Drug Mart. The centre is open Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information visit the Family Resource Centre page, or go to www.aboutkidshealth.ca.
Other services to help you
- and a listing of clinics (in pdf format) are available at the Information Desk and Clinic Registration Desk in the Atrium.
- Your can purchase a variety of food at SickKids, including snacks and full meals.
Are you from out of town and need a place to stay?
If you are coming from out of town please ask for a copy of our Family Guidebook. The guidebook has some information about hotels in the area and other places to stay. Copies are available at the Information Desk on the main floor in the Atrium. Or visit: Maps of the main floor for more information
SickKids is a teaching hospital
Each health-care team is led by a staff doctor who is responsible for your child’s care. You and your child may also meet the clinic nurses and other members of the health-care team. As a teaching hospital connected with the University of Toronto, SickKids helps train doctors, nurses, and other health-care professionals who might see your child during the clinic visit.
Note to parents
At SickKids, we understand that families feel a lot of stress when a child is ill. We will do our best to support you and help you cope with your situation.
It is the policy of SickKids to treat everyone with respect, and to keep patients, parents and staff safe from harm. Abusive or violent words or actions are not acceptable from anyone.
Thank you for helping to make SickKids a safe place so that we can all focus on what is most important to all of us – patient care.