As of March 29, 2026, Quebec's emergency departments are showing a notable downward trend in pressure compared to three days ago. There are currently 1,356 patients waiting for consultation and 3,955 total patients in ERs, with a provincial stretcher occupancy rate of 80%. This represents a significant 17-percentage point decrease in stretcher occupancy since March 27, suggesting a successful clearing of bed backlogs across several regions.
Despite the broader provincial improvement, localized congestion remains severe in certain sectors. The Laval region is the most impacted with 151% stretcher occupancy, followed by Chaudière-Appalaches at 127% and Lanaudière at 114%. Montreal maintains a high stretcher utilization of 98%, while regions like Nord-du-Québec and Abitibi-Témiscamingue report much lower pressure levels. Hôpital Charles-Le Moyne and Hôpital Pierre-Boucher currently lead the province in the total number of patients waiting.