What should you know about healthcare and emergencies in Bridgetown?
Police
211
Ambulance: 511.
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: totallybarbados.com, firstclassbarbados.co.uk
Good to know
Good to Know
- Barbados has three separate emergency numbers instead of one universal number: 211 for police, 311 for fire, and 511 for ambulance — worth saving all three in your phone before you need them.
- If you're on a foreign SIM, these short emergency codes may not connect reliably; picking up a local Digicel or Flow SIM soon after landing is a practical safety step.
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown is the main public facility with 24-hour emergency care; private clinics exist but can be costly for tourists without insurance.
- During hurricane season (June–November), the Department of Emergency Management (dem.gov.bb) and Barbados Meteorological Services are the authoritative sources for storm shelters and warnings — the BMS Insight app is useful for real-time weather alerts.
- For non-emergency crime reporting, Crime Stoppers Barbados (1-800-8477) allows anonymous tips.
- For any life-threatening emergency (major trauma, gunshot wounds, stroke, heart attack), go straight to Queen Elizabeth Hospital's Accident & Emergency Department — it is the island's only full public trauma/acute referral hospital and is open 24/7.
- Bayview Hospital's Urgent Care is useful for non-life-threatening issues (falls, dehydration, minor injuries, fevers) and can be faster than QEH's often-busy public A&E, but it will refer serious trauma cases on to QEH.
- Barbados does not use the U.S.-style Level I–IV trauma center rating system; QEH is instead rated a PAHO 'Category B' facility.
- Dial 511 for ambulance/A&E within Barbados, or use QEH's main switchboard +1 246-436-6450 which operates 24/7.
Hospitals
Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH)
- Type
- Public — main acute care / referral hospital for Barbados
- Address
- Martindale's Road, Bridgetown, St. Michael, Barbados (postal BB11155)
- Emergency Hours
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Trauma Level Designation
- No U.S.-style Level I/II/III trauma designation exists in Barbados. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has rated QEH as a Category B hospital facility, and it functions as the island's primary acute/trauma referral center — the place life-threatening emergencies (e.g. severe trauma, gunshot wounds) are directed to.
- Notes
- QEH is a 519-bed complex and is the country's only full public general hospital, affiliated with the University of the West Indies as a teaching hospital.
Contact
- Help Desk
- +1 246-536-4800 (7AM–7PM daily, closed public holidays)
- Main Switchboard
- +1 246-436-6450 (24/7)
- Accident Emergency Operator
- +1 246-436-6450 ext. 5540, or dial 511 locally
Bayview Hospital
- Type
- Private hospital with Urgent Care Centre and Level 2 ICU
- Address
- St. Paul's Avenue, Bayville, St. Michael, Barbados (BB14019) — just outside central Bridgetown
- Emergency Hours
- General hospital reception: 7AM–8PM daily. The newer Bayview Urgent Care Centre is advertised as walk-in, no appointment needed; company materials describe it as open 24 hours on weekends, with 24/7 on-call physician and nursing support at other times.
- Trauma Level Designation
- Not a designated trauma center. Bayview explicitly states its Urgent Care treats non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses only — for life-threatening conditions or severe trauma (e.g. gunshot wounds), patients are directed to the Accident & Emergency Department at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Bayview does operate the only private-hospital Level 2 ICU in Barbados for critical care admissions after initial treatment.
- Notes
- Founded in 1989, rebranded 2014; roughly a 2-mile / short drive from the Bridgetown port area.
Contact
- Phone
- +1 246-436-5446 or +1 246-431-9182
- Reception Hours
- 7AM–8PM
Polyclinics
Winston Scott Polyclinic (Formerly Jemmotts Lane)
- Details
- Government-run facility offering family medicine, general consultations, preventative health, chronic disease management, and basic diagnostics.
- Location
- Bridgetown, St. Michael
Public Facilities
Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH)
- Type
- Public acute care hospital
- Details
- Government-owned, 600+ bed facility. Accredited teaching hospital affiliated with University of the West Indies. Provides emergency services, specialized care including pediatrics, obstetrics, plastic surgery, radiology, and psychiatry. QEH switchboard: (246) 436-6450. Emergency: 511.
- Location
- Bridgetown, St. Michael
- Wait Times Note
- Longer wait times expected at public facilities; public healthcare free for citizens but limited access for visitors without insurance.
Private Facilities
Bayview Hospital
- Type
- Private hospital
- Details
- State-of-the-art facility with specialist services (ENT, neurology, cosmetic/reconstructive surgery, obstetrics/gynecology). 24-hour operations. Offers urgent care center. Reception 7AM–8PM.
- Location
- Bayville, St. Michael (just outside Bridgetown)
- Note
- Shorter waiting times than public facilities; private payment or insurance pre-authorization required.
FMH Emergency Medical Clinic
- Type
- Private emergency clinic
- Details
- Level 2 Emergency Centre with five Emergency Physicians. No major surgery or overnight stays. Hours 8am–12am (midnight).
- Location
- Outside Bridgetown, St. Michael
- Cost Note
- Upfront payment or insurance pre-authorization required.
Pharmacies
- Overview
- Government-run Barbados Drug Service (BDS) operates subsidized/free medication program for chronic conditions. Approximately 76 private pharmacies participate in the Special Benefits Service.
- Operating Hours
- Most pharmacies: 8am–6pm Monday–Saturday. Sunday hours inconsistent (reduced in tourist areas; closed in smaller outlets).
- OTC Availability
- Standard OTC products available without prescription: paracetamol, ibuprofen, antihistamines, antacids, topical antiseptics, cold/flu remedies.
- Prescription System
- Prescription-based system. Obtain medications through licensed pharmacies in person.
- 24 Hour Availability
- No extensive 24-hour network; limited 24-hour pharmacies.
- Emergency Medication
- Medicines provided free of charge to patients receiving emergency treatment at QEH.
- Online Pharmacy Warning
- Online pharmacy services not formally regulated in Barbados. Safest approach is in-person at licensed pharmacy. Unverified overseas online purchases may violate Food and Drugs Act (1963) and carry risk of counterfeit products.
- Description
- Mature, accessible pharmaceutical network of government and private pharmacies across Bridgetown and the island.
- Medication Availability Note
- Some specialty/prescription medications may have limited availability on island. Expats should confirm availability of specific medications with a local pharmacy before relying on local supply.
Notable Pharmacies In Bridgetown
C S Pharmacy Ltd.
- Phone
- (246) 427-2047
- Details
- Full range of prescription drugs, medical supplies, OTC medications, health-related products (blood pressure monitors, diabetic supplies), personal care items, cosmetics.
- Location
- Trident House, Lower Broad Street, Bridgetown, St. Michael
Aljoy Pharmacies
- Hours
- Varies by location
- Details
- Digital refill service available. Professional pharmaceutical care across the island.
- Location
- Multiple locations including Belleville, Maxwell (Main Road), Brittons Cross Roads (all St. Michael)
Holborn Pharmacy
- Phone
- (246) 430-0540
- Location
- 36A Pine Road, St. Michael, Bridgetown
Get Well Pharmacy
- Phone
- (246) 622-4171
- Location
- Corner Government Hill & Pine Plantation Road, St. Michael, Bridgetown
Emergency Numbers
- Universal Emergency Number
- None — Barbados does not use a single 911-style number. Three separate three-digit numbers are used for police, fire, and ambulance.
- Fire
- 311
- Police
- 211
- Ambulance
- 511
- Coast Guard
- +1 (246) 427-8819 (for maritime emergencies)
- Fire And Rescue WhatsApp
- +1 (246) 262-4120 (for hard-of-hearing users or to send a pin location; not a substitute for calling 311 in a life-threatening emergency)
- Mental Health Crisis Line
- Lifeline Barbados +1 (246) 536-4500 (24/7, free)
- US Embassy Emergency Line
- +1 (246) 227-4000 (for U.S. citizens, ask for the duty officer after hours)
- Crime Stoppers Anonymous Tip Line
- 1-800-8477
- National Disaster Emergency Management Agency
- Department of Emergency Management (DEM) — coordinates hurricane/earthquake/tsunami shelters and alerts, dem.gov.bb
- Note On Dialing
- Calling the 3-digit emergency numbers (211/311/511) generally requires a local Barbadian phone number/SIM; some overseas mobile plans have had trouble reaching these short codes directly, so getting a local SIM (Digicel or Flow/Lime) shortly after arrival is a sensible precaution.
Official Alerting Apps And Tools
- Barbados Meteorological Services runs a public weather app called 'BMS Insight' for real-time forecasts and storm bulletins, downloadable via app stores.
- The Department of Emergency Management's Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) pushes hazard alerts via SMS, email, and radio/TV interrupts rather than a dedicated smartphone app — residents/visitors can register on the DEM website to receive email alerts.
- PickUp Barbados is the local licensed ride-hailing app (Uber does not operate on the island) and is commonly recommended for safer late-night transport rather than as an emergency-response tool.
Description
Bridgetown has well-established healthcare infrastructure with both public and private facilities.
Emergency Contact
Dial 511 for urgent medical assistance. QEH A&E operates 24 hours.
Insurance And Payment
Public healthcare is free for citizens/residents at government facilities. Visitors and expats require travel or international medical insurance. Private facilities require upfront payment or insurance authorization.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this emergencies research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Bridgetown
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.