2026-10-26 — Daily report — Quebec emergency departments saw increased strain on October 26, 2026, with stretcher occupancy rising to 85% and waiting patients reaching 1,657.

Key Takeaways

•Province-wide stretcher occupancy increased by 8 percentage points to 85%, with 1,657 patients waiting across Quebec (an increase of 268 from October 25).

•Laval (143%) and Montréal (142%) experienced the highest regional stretcher occupancy rates, driving severe urban ER crowding.

•Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont in Montréal recorded the highest number of waiting patients (79) with 167% stretcher occupancy.

On October 26, 2026, emergency department pressure across Quebec's 108 reported facilities showed a notable increase compared to the previous day. According to historical data from urgencesquebec.com, the number of patients waiting in emergency rooms rose to 1,657, up by 268 patients from 1,389 on October 25. Total patients present in ERs reached 4,075, while overall stretcher occupancy climbed by 8 percentage points from 77% to 85%.\n\nRegional strain was heaviest in Laval (143% stretcher occupancy), Montréal (142%, 397 waiting), Chaudière-Appalaches (133%), Montérégie (131%), and Laurentides (128%). At the facility level, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont in Montréal was the busiest site with 79 patients waiting (167% stretcher occupancy), followed closely by Hôpital Charles-Le Moyne in Montérégie with 78 waiting, and Hôpital de Gatineau and Hôpital de Saint-Jérôme with 63 waiting each.