As of May 23, 2026, Quebec's emergency departments are seeing a gradual stabilization in patient volumes. Data from urgencesquebec.com indicates that the number of patients waiting for a doctor has decreased from 1,026 earlier in the day to 977, while total stretcher occupancy across 119 facilities currently sits at 76%. This represents a notable improvement compared to ten days ago, where the number of waiting patients was significantly higher at 1,409.
Despite the province-wide decrease in pressure, specific urban centers continue to face critical overcapacity. Laval and Montérégie are reporting the highest stretcher occupancy rates at 135% and 118%, with Hôpital Pierre-Boucher and the Jewish General Hospital remaining among the busiest sites. Conversely, regions like Mauricie et Centre-du-Québec are currently reporting zero waiting patients, highlighting a sharp geographical divide in healthcare demand.