CTVNews

What a new report reveals about the true cause of Canada’s massive emergency wait times

National Post

Canadians are dying in emergency rooms as wait times climb to 48 hours

Headed to the ER? Here's why you could now wait more than 48 hours to be admitted

The Globe and Mail

Emergency room wait times continue to climb in Canada as more medically complex patients seek care

Winnipeg Sun

Backlogs in long-term care, home care services driving ER wait times up: report

CityNews Vancouver

Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP)

The Hidden Drivers of Emergency Department Overcrowding: Long-Term Care Delays, Community Care Gaps, and Patient Safety in Canada

Barrie 360

Half of admitted ER patients waited more than 16 hours for a bed last year, report finds

Concern70732755

DefendCanada88

MichaelBator6

Toronto Star

Canadas emergency departments are in worse shape than before the pandemic. This is how bad its gotten

A Canadian Institute for Health Information report released June 25, 2026, found that one in 10 emergency department patients — about 1.5 million people — spent more than 14 hours in the ER in 2024-25, a 28 percent increase from 2018-19.

A Canadian Institute for Health Information report released June 25, 2026, found that one in 10 emergency department patients — about 1.5 million people — spent more than 14 hours in the ER in 2024-25, a 28 percent increase from 2018-19.

Of the 1.8 million patients who required hospital admission in 2024-25, one in 10 — roughly 180,000 people — waited more than 48 hours in the emergency department for an inpatient bed, a 33 percent jump from 2018-19.

Of the 1.8 million patients who required hospital admission in 2024-25, one in 10 — roughly 180,000 people — waited more than 48 hours in the emergency department for an inpatient bed, a 33 percent jump from 2018-19.

About 66 percent of emergency department visits in 2024-25 were classified as high acuity, representing 1.7 million more visits than in 2018-19. Nearly one-third of visits involved patients with multiple medical conditions requiring complex care.

About 66 percent of emergency department visits in 2024-25 were classified as high acuity, representing 1.7 million more visits than in 2018-19. Nearly one-third of visits involved patients with multiple medical conditions requiring complex care.

Patients designated as alternate level of care — those no longer requiring acute care but unable to be discharged — made up 8 percent of hospital admissions and waited a median of 24 days in hospital. Half of those awaiting long-term care placement waited up to 44 days.

Patients designated as alternate level of care — those no longer requiring acute care but unable to be discharged — made up 8 percent of hospital admissions and waited a median of 24 days in hospital. Half of those awaiting long-term care placement waited up to 44 days.

The Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians stated that every additional four hours of emergency department boarding is associated with an 8.4 percent increase in 30-day mortality, and overnight boarding of older adults raises in-hospital mortality by 39 percent.

The Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians stated that every additional four hours of emergency department boarding is associated with an 8.4 percent increase in 30-day mortality, and overnight boarding of older adults raises in-hospital mortality by 39 percent.

Canada had one of the lowest hospital bed counts per capita among 32 OECD countries in 2023. The CIHI report's director of health system analytics, Cheryl Chui, said solutions must address the health-care system as a whole rather than focusing solely on emergency departments.

Canada had one of the lowest hospital bed counts per capita among 32 OECD countries in 2023. The CIHI report's director of health system analytics, Cheryl Chui, said solutions must address the health-care system as a whole rather than focusing solely on emergency departments.

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Canadians are dying in emergency rooms as wait times climb to 48 hours

Canada

Health

Canada ER Wait Times Surge 28% Since 2018

Canada ER Wait Times Surge 28% Since 2018

CanadiansCanada areER dyingWait inTimes emergencySurge rooms28% asSince wait times climb to 48 hours2018

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Canada ER Wait Times Surge 28% Since 2018

CanadiansCanada areER dyingWait inTimes emergencySurge rooms28% asSince wait times climb to 48 hours2018

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