Nearly 430,000 Quebecers Leave Emergency Rooms Without Care

A recent study reveals that almost 430,000 residents of Quebec left hospital emergency rooms without receiving treatment in 2024. Conducted by the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI), the findings highlight a troubling trend in the province’s healthcare system, where patients are departing not by choice, but due to systemic failures.

The report indicates that Quebec recorded over 3.7 million emergency room visits last year. Among these, 428,676 patients left before consulting a doctor, which equates to 11.6 percent of all visits. This represents an increase of 8.8 percent since 2019. Nationwide, the situation is equally concerning, with approximately 1,267,736 patients across Canada leaving emergency rooms without treatment—about one in every thirteen visits, resulting in a national average of 7.8 percent and an overall increase of 35.6 percent.

Emmanuelle B. Faubert, an economist with MEI and the report’s author, stated, “These patients are not leaving because they feel better, but because the system is failing them. Thousands of Quebecers are being denied access to care each year.” The data illustrates that most patients who depart without treatment are classified as P4 or P5, indicating semi-urgent or non-urgent cases. Faubert emphasized that these individuals often face some of the longest wait times due to their low priority status.

Patients who forgo or delay treatment often experience worsening conditions, complicating their health issues. “Solving the crisis in primary care is essential if we want to keep patients from continuing to fall through the cracks,” Faubert added. She urged policymakers to enhance healthcare delivery by incorporating independent and alternative providers, warning that without such measures, the crisis is likely to deteriorate further.

Impact of Emergency Room Departures

The challenges highlighted in the MEI report align with observations from Santé Québec, which reported that nearly half a million individuals leave emergency rooms untreated each year. In 2024, around 70 percent of these departures involved patients classified as priority P4 or P5. Santé Québec noted, “These are users whose needs can be met by other health professionals,” adding that Quebec has a higher proportion of such patients compared to many other Canadian provinces.

Interestingly, 18 percent of those who leave the emergency room without treatment return within 48 hours. Santé Québec attributes the rising wait times to the province’s ageing population and increasing complexity of cases requiring more intensive care.

In response to these challenges, Santé Québec reported a modest reduction in average emergency room wait times. As of now, the average time spent in the emergency department for patients classified from P1 to P5 has decreased by 12 minutes, from two hours 58 minutes to two hours 46 minutes, marking a 6.7 percent improvement.

Proposed Solutions to Improve Access

To tackle the ongoing issues, Santé Québec is implementing various strategies aimed at reducing wait times. These include revising criteria for patient referrals after triage, redefining the roles of medical coordinators, and redirecting non-urgent patients to alternative care options.

Meanwhile, the MEI recommends expanding the use of specialized nurse practitioner clinics, broadening the scope of practice for pharmacists, and establishing non-governmental immediate care medical centres. These measures draw inspiration from systems in countries like France, which effectively handle non-life-threatening emergencies.

It is important to note that the MEI’s national data does not include patients residing in Saskatchewan or those under New Brunswick’s Vitalité Santé health network, as health authorities in these regions did not provide the requested information.

The situation in Quebec underscores a growing concern about access to healthcare services, with significant implications for patient health and the overall efficiency of the healthcare system. As policymakers and health officials explore potential solutions, the hope remains that timely and effective care can be made accessible to all.