Surrey Memorial Hospital - Surrey, British Columbia

Jashan V.

I had the most upsetting experience of my life at the Surrey Memorial Hospital Emergency Department. If you’re in Surrey and need help, the only option you’re given is to go to the emergency ward — but sadly, the definition of “emergency” here seems to be entirely lost.

We were told the wait time was 8 to 10 hours. Is this what emergency care is supposed to mean? For decades, we’ve been taught that “emergency” means immediate help — not sitting in pain for hours while no one responds.

After waiting three hours near the emergency check-in, we were moved to another area where we waited an additional four hours, surrounded by people crying, moaning, and clearly in distress. Still, the staff appeared unconcerned. No one was attended to with any urgency. I witnessed vulnerable people ignored, while staff moved about slowly, casually, and without compassion.

One of the most unprofessional things I saw was from a female security guard, who had excessive makeup on and acted as if she was in charge of the hospital. Around 6 p.m., she stood near a female friend of hers (a patient named Jasmine Kaur), laughing and chatting for nearly an hour inside the emergency zone. After that, she casually walked up to the check-in nurse and asked if her friend could be seen early.

How is that fair?

People were waiting for hours in pain — some visibly trembling, others crying for help — and this “special favor” was allowed because of a personal connection?

In retail, grocery stores, or anywhere else, everyone waits in line — even if you’re the owner or manager. No one skips ahead. But at Surrey Memorial Hospital, a security guard can use their influence to get their friend treated before others who are truly suffering?

That is completely unacceptable.

Hospitals are supposed to be sacred spaces where everyone is equal — not where favors are given to friends through personal influence and unprofessional behavior. The staff, including the security and some of the medical personnel, showed a disturbing lack of urgency and empathy.

To the management: You need to investigate this. Check your security cameras. Watch what happened that day. If you care about human lives, then do not allow this type of abuse of power inside your emergency ward.

Lastly, if you’re someone calling 911 for a true emergency, I urge you to request NOT to be taken to Surrey Memorial Hospital. The system there is broken. And unless real changes are made, I fear many people will suffer simply because of neglect, favoritism, and misplaced priorities.

People’s lives are not games.

Ziyam B.

I strongly suggest reconsidering the use of the word “Emergency” in the name, as this facility does not reflect the urgency or efficiency one would expect in a true emergency setting.

The check-in process alone took several hours, which is unacceptable, especially for patients in critical condition. Despite the number of staff present, there seemed to be little effort to expedite the process. One staff member, in particular, seated at the second counter, appeared more engaged with other works than with attending to patients.

If the initial check-in takes this long, it’s concerning to imagine how someone with a life-threatening condition, such as severe heart disease, would be treated in time.

Urgent improvements are needed to staffing, efficiency, and overall responsiveness to match the expectations of an emergency care facility.

AISHPREET K.

I am writing to express my deep disappointment with the care and service we received today in your Emergency Department.

We arrived at 10:00 AM and the initial tests were conducted in the morning. However, since 6:00 PM there has been no response from any doctor regarding the results or the next steps in treatment. We have been forced to wait for hours without any update, which has been extremely distressing.

The person I am accompanying is unwell and unable to sit or stand properly for prolonged periods, yet no effort was made to prioritize or accommodate their condition. While I understand that emergency care is often provided on a first-come, first-served basis, we observed multiple patients who arrived after us being attended to ahead of us. This feels neither fair nor transparent.

This long and unexplained delay in an emergency setting is unacceptable. I request that you look into this matter seriously and take appropriate steps to ensure patients are treated with the urgency and respect they deserve.

I would appreciate a prompt response explaining why this happened and what measures will be taken to prevent such experiences in the future.

akram W.

My wife and I welcomed our beautiful baby girl IQRA on April 3rd, 2025, at Surrey Memorial Hospital, and we couldn’t be more thankful for the amazing care we received. From the moment we arrived, we were met with kindness and professionalism. The nurses were absolutely wonderful—they made us feel comfortable, supported, and at ease during every step of the process.

While I had some initial doubts due to mixed reviews, our experience was nothing short of perfect. The nurses went above and beyond to make sure everything went smoothly, and their care and attention to detail meant so much to us. We are incredibly grateful to all the hardworking staff at Surrey Memorial who made our experience so memorable.

Thank you for making our delivery day as smooth and positive as possible!

With heartfelt thanks,
Akram & Asra

Kerrian L.

The idea of Emergency and care is lost here! The nurses talk to each other and blatantly ignore you, when they do acknowledge you, its like you went to their personal home on their time off to bother them.

I know its hard to be around people that are sick, but don't choose this if you don't care about the wellbeing of people.

This nurse literally was shooting the shit with the checking lady while I stood there saying hello and they didn't pause or break from their personal conversations to acknowledge me.

Emergency is not being in pain for 10hrs, that's not Emergency, that's complacency. The system needs to be revamped. How can you only have two doctors working with hundreds of emergencies?

peter L.

Terrible hospital, I would rather die at home than go to Surrey Memorial.
I was brought in by ambulance because of shortness of breath due to multiple rib fractures from an accident earlier in the week. I was taken in and placed in a waiting room with about 50 people. I sat down next to a man that within a few minutes a woman squeezed herself between us and was asking him to hook her up with some drugs, she begged for about 5 minutes before I got up and stood close to the door. I stood there in agony for about 10 minutes as there was nowhere else to sit, really having a hard time breathing so I went to the nurses desk explaining that I am having a hard time breathing and the nurse behind the desk glanced up from her phone and asked my name. I gave her my name and she said I’ve been here for about an hour and they are seeing people that have been here for 5 hours now. I explained that I am having a hard time breathing and she shrugged her shoulders and got back on her phone. I was left with no choice but to leave the hospital and go find another hospital. At the next hospital I was admitted and they discovered that I had blood in my lungs and inserted a drain tube right away. I think if I had stayed at Surrey Memorial I would have died.

Sidak J.

I had a great experience at Surrey Memorial Hospital’s emergency department. I went in with a deep cut on my thumb, and they responded immediately. They quickly directed me to the nearest Fraser Health clinic, just 250 meters away, for treatment.

The nurse who attended to me (working on Sunday) was exceptional—very professional and caring. I wish I knew her name because she truly provided top-notch service. The entire process was incredibly fast; I arrived at 4:10 PM, and by 4:30 PM, my stitches were done, and everything was taken care of. Even though I don’t remember the doctor’s name, the whole experience was fantastic.

Huge thanks to the staff for their efficiency and great service!

Nobi R.

I’m honestly surprised to see reviews saying the nurses were good that wasn’t my experience at all. During my time at Surrey Memorial Hospital, many nurses were on their phones during working hours and barely paid attention to patients. What bothered me most was that they didn’t know how to speak with patients properly, especially when someone is in pain and needs reassurance or support. There was a clear lack of training, professionalism, and proper management. If you’re looking for care and compassion, this is not the place. Not recommended.