According to data from urgencesquebec.com, the provincial emergency room situation for April 23, 2026, shows a notable decline in overall pressure compared to two weeks ago. The total number of patients waiting has decreased by 342 since April 10, and the stretcher occupancy rate has dropped by 7 percentage points to 84%. While provincial averages are stabilizing, regional disparities remain stark; Montreal and Montérégie continue to face high demand with occupancy rates exceeding 100%.
Critical hotspots are identified in Laval, where Hôpital de la Cité-de-la-Santé is operating at a concerning 167% stretcher capacity. Similarly, the Laurentides and Chaudière-Appalaches regions are experiencing significant strain. In contrast, the situation in Nord-du-Québec and the Bas-Saint-Laurent remains stable with significantly lower occupancy and waiting times. Overall, the volume of patients in ERs has decreased from 3,885 at the start of the day to 3,460 by the latest snapshot.