Emergency room conditions across Quebec show a notable upward trend in congestion compared to earlier this week. According to data from urgencesquebec.com, there are currently 1,644 patients waiting and 4,655 total patients in ERs across 119 facilities. This represents a substantial increase from May 3rd, with the number of waiting patients rising by 244 and the province-wide stretcher occupancy climbing 17 percentage points to 97%. While some morning indicators showed a slight improvement in total ER census (down from 4,826 earlier in the day), occupancy remains at critical levels in several urban hubs.
Regional data highlights severe pressure in the Laurentides (136%) and Lanaudière (137%) regions. In Montreal, occupancy sits at 117%, with Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont recording the highest volume of waiting patients at 48. Meanwhile, Hôpital Pierre-Boucher in Montérégie is operating at a concerning 162% stretcher capacity, illustrating the sustained strain on healthcare resources as we move into the second week of May.