Nearly 430,000 Quebecers Leave Emergency Rooms Untreated in 2024

A recent study by the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) reveals that nearly 430,000 Quebec residents left hospital emergency rooms without receiving treatment in 2024. This alarming statistic underscores significant shortcomings in the healthcare system, with economist Emmanuelle B. Faubert, the study’s author, stating, “These patients are not leaving because they feel better, but because the system is failing them.”

The report highlights that Quebec experienced over 3.7 million emergency room visits last year. Of these, 428,676 patients departed before consulting a doctor, representing 11.6 percent of all visits. This figure marks an 8.8 percent increase since 2019. On a national scale, Canada saw 16.3 million emergency room visits, with approximately 1.27 million patients leaving without treatment—equating to one in every thirteen visits and a national average of 7.8 percent, reflecting a 35.6 percent rise during the same period.

Impact of Emergency Departures on Patient Care

The study indicates that most patients who leave without treatment in Quebec are classified as either P4 or P5, which correspond to semi-urgent or non-urgent cases. These classifications often result in longer wait times as lower-priority patients are pushed further down the queue. Faubert emphasizes that postponing or skipping necessary care frequently leads to deteriorating health conditions, complicating future treatment.

“Solving the crisis in primary care is essential if we want to keep patients from continuing to fall through the cracks,” Faubert said, urging policymakers to consider expanding healthcare delivery options to independent providers.

According to Santé Québec, the data aligns with their findings, revealing that nearly half a million individuals each year have left emergency rooms untreated. In the 2024-2025 period, 70 percent of those departures were classified as priority levels 4 or 5, indicating that their health needs could potentially be addressed by other healthcare professionals.

Importantly, 18 percent of patients who leave the emergency room without treatment return within 48 hours, highlighting a cycle of crisis that strains the healthcare system. Santé Québec attributes these delays to both an ageing population and a growing number of complex cases that require more extensive attention, ultimately leading to longer wait times.

Efforts to Reduce Wait Times and Improve Access

Currently, Santé Québec is working diligently to address emergency room wait times. The average time spent in the emergency room for patients across all priority levels has decreased by 12 minutes over the past year, from two hours 58 minutes to two hours 46 minutes, a reduction of 6.7 percent.

In its pursuit of solutions, Santé Québec is implementing various strategies, including revising patient referral criteria post-triage, redefining the roles of medical coordinators, and redirecting non-urgent patients to alternative care options.

The MEI also suggests additional measures to enhance healthcare access, such as expanding the role of specialized nurse practitioner clinics, broadening pharmacists’ scopes of practice, and establishing non-governmental immediate care centres for non-life-threatening emergencies, similar to systems implemented in countries like France.

The MEI’s national data does not encompass patients in Saskatchewan or those covered by New Brunswick’s Vitalité Santé health network, as these health authorities did not provide the necessary data for inclusion in the study.

As the healthcare crisis continues to evolve, ongoing discussions and actions are critical to ensure that all Canadians receive timely and adequate medical care. The rising number of untreated patients reflects a pressing need for systemic reform within the healthcare framework in Quebec and beyond.