MONTRÉAL, Jan 17, 2025 /CNW/ – Santé Québec presents its second assessment of the situation in Quebec’s emergency rooms, specifying that the network remains under pressure, in particular due to the traffic linked to patients presenting flu-like symptoms.
Comparisons with last year
Between 2023-2024 et 2024-2025, the stretcher occupancy rate increased from 126% to 121%, for the period from December 31 to January 13. The situation is therefore considered to be slightly declining.
The average length of stay decreased from 20.1 hours to 18.6 hours, an improvement of 1.5 hours per patient, during the same period.
-« Since the same period last year, and even compared to two years ago, we notice an improvement in the average length of stay of around 1 hour. This hour can make the difference for patients who are waiting to be taken care of and whose condition requires an emergency stretcher,” explains Frédéric Abergel, Executive Vice-President Operations and Transformation at Santé Québec.
To avoid the emergency
Depending on your state of health, it is possible to avoid the emergency by consulting other services. The population is invited to contact 811 Info-Santé, the CLSC, their family doctor and to consult the guides available online for treating themselves at home.
Pharmacists also offer many local services.
“It is essential that patients understand the services offered in pharmacies to alleviate pressure on the health network. Pharmacists can treat many common conditions such as the flu, COVID, gastroenteritis symptoms and, under certain conditions, female urinary tract infection and shingles. With demand also being high in pharmacies, we are calling on the population to be patient and to adopt simple actions that make a difference for pharmacy teams and for patients who have urgent needs. Plan for the predictable, like refilling prescriptions, and make appointments when possible,” emphasizes Benoit Morinpresident of the Quebec Association of Pharmacist Owners.
SOURCE Health Quebec
Information: Santé Québec media line: 418-781-6209, [email protected]
