In its second report on the situation in Quebec’s emergency rooms – the first in 2025 relating to the assessment of the holiday season, Santé Québec specifies that emergencies are faced with significant traffic “linked to patients presenting flu-like symptoms” .
Santé Québec specifies in a press release that between 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, the occupancy rate of stretchers increased from 126% to 121%, for the period from December 31 to January 13. “The situation is therefore considered to be slightly declining,” it was clarified.
Still according to Santé Québec, the average length of stay increased 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 have noticed an improvement in the average length of stay of around one hour. This hour can make the difference for patients who are waiting to be taken care of and whose condition requires an emergency stretcher,” explained Frédéric Abergel, Executive Vice-President Operations and Transformation of Santé Québec.
“Everyone has a role to play”
Mr. Abergel also underlined that we are approaching, in Quebec, the heart of the winter period while the end of January and the month of February “are critical times” when it comes to flu-like symptoms. .
Between December 31, 2024 and January 13, 2025, Santé Québec notes 401 daily visits to emergency rooms in Quebec for flu-like symptoms. In 2023-2024, this number was 403.
“Everyone needs to work together to prevent this. We all have a role to play in reducing pressure on emergencies, there are other solutions.”
– Frédéric Abergel., Executive Vice-President Operations and Transformation of Santé Québec
See also: Overwhelmed hospitals in Quebec: diseases and viruses that do not require a trip to the emergency room
-Santé Québec is therefore once again making Quebecers aware of other services available, in addition to emergency, when your state of health does not require emergency intervention: 811 Info-Santé, CLSCs, family doctors or even pharmacists.
“Pharmacists can treat many common conditions such as the flu, COVID, symptoms of gastroenteritis and, under certain conditions, urinary tract infection in women and shingles,” noted Benoit Morin, president of the Quebec association of pharmacist owners.
Knowing that the pressure is also strong on pharmacies, Mr. Morin asks the population to be patient. “Plan for the predictable, like refilling prescriptions, and make appointments when possible,” he added.
Emergencies under pressure
As of Friday – 10:20 a.m. – the occupancy rate in Quebec hospitals was estimated at 125% according to data collected and published by Index Santé.
The average length of stay of people in the waiting room was estimated at 4 hours and 35 minutes while the average length of stay of people waiting on a stretcher was estimated at 19 hours and 45 minutes.
Still according to data from Index Santé, the occupancy rate of emergency departments in the provinces varied from 116% to 131% over the last 10 days.
See also: Measles: Dr. Boileau’s message to Quebecers who have not isolated themselves
The regions of Laval (161%), Lanaudière (151%) and the Laurentides (151%) are the three regions where the emergency occupancy rate is the highest as of Friday morning. Five other regions have an emergency occupancy rate greater than 100%, namely Montérégie (147%), Montreal (146%), Outaouais (141%), Chaudière-Appalaches (117%) and Mauricie and Center-du-Québec (109%).
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