2026-10-05 — Daily report — Quebec emergency room conditions improve overall with stretcher occupancy falling to 77%, though critical congestion remains in Laval and Montreal.

Key Takeaways

•Overall stretcher occupancy in Quebec emergency departments decreased by 16 percentage points to 77% compared to 13 days ago.

•Montréal and Montérégie remain under pressure with 222 and 204 patients waiting respectively, alongside elevated stretcher occupancies of 123% and 129%.

•Laval recorded the highest regional stretcher occupancy at 159%, driven by Hôpital de la Cité-de-la-Santé where 39 patients were waiting.

On October 5, 2026, Quebec's emergency departments showed an overall improvement in capacity compared to September 23, 2026. According to historical data from urgencesquebec.com, there were 1,258 patients waiting and 3,568 patients in ERs across 120 facilities. This represents a decrease of 129 waiting patients and a notable 16 percentage point drop in provincial stretcher occupancy, which currently averages 77%.

Despite the general downward trend, severe congestion persists in several regions. Laval recorded the highest regional stretcher occupancy at 159%, followed closely by Mauricie et Centre-du-Québec at 133%. In terms of volume, Montréal and Montérégie saw the highest congestion, with Montréal reporting 222 waiting patients and a 123% stretcher occupancy rate. At the individual facility level, Hôpital Charles-Le Moyne and Hôpital de Granby are currently the busiest, each reporting 48 patients waiting.