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Canadians Abandon ERs: Half a Million Unseen in 2024
21 Nov
Summary
- Nearly 500,000 Canadians left emergency rooms without seeing a doctor in 2024.
- Long wait times and systemic issues are pushing patients to leave ERs.
- A preventable death in Ontario highlights the critical dangers of ER delays.
A significant number of Canadians, approaching half a million in 2024, are leaving emergency departments without being seen by a physician. This figure, collected from most provinces and territories, excludes data from B.C. and Quebec. Prince Edward Island reported the highest departure rate at approximately 14 percent, followed by Manitoba and New Brunswick, while Ontario showed the lowest at about five percent.
The trend of patients leaving emergency rooms has worsened since 2019, with some regions experiencing nearly double the number of departures. Emergency physicians attribute this to prolonged wait times, stemming from complex factors like staff shortages, a lack of family doctors, and "boarded patients" occupying ER beds. These delays mean patients often return sicker, as exemplified by a case in New Brunswick.
A tragic incident in Ontario, where a teenager died after waiting over eight hours in an ER for an "emergent" condition, underscores the severe consequences of these delays. The family is pursuing legal action and advocating for legislative changes. While provincial governments acknowledge the issues and are implementing measures, patient advocates stress that more systemic solutions are urgently needed to address the growing crisis.
