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2026-03-30 — Weekly report on Quebec's emergency room situation — Week 14

Generated on 2026-03-30 · Week 14 of 2026

Key Takeaways

  • •Overall ER occupancy saw a healthy decline this week, with the total number of patients in ER dropping from 3,955 to 3,595.
  • •Stretcher occupancy rates improved significantly, falling from an 80% average at the start of the week to 74% by month-end.
  • •Montérégie, Laval, and Laurentides remain the primary pressure points, with all three regions reporting stretcher occupancy levels exceeding 100%.
  • •Hôpital Charles-Le Moyne is currently the busiest facility in the province, managing 58 patients in the waiting room.
  • •Rural regions like Bas-Saint-Laurent and Abitibi-Témiscamingue continue to show strong stability with stretcher occupancy rates below 45%.

The emergency room situation in Quebec for the week ending March 30, 2026, shows a positive downward trend in general congestion. Total patient volume within ER facilities decreased by approximately 9% over the seven-day period, while the number of patients waiting for a physician also saw a modest decline from 1,356 to 1,312. This cooling of demand is reflected in the province-wide stretcher occupancy rate, which eased from 80% to 74%, suggesting improved patient flow and discharge efficiency as the month concludes. (estimate)

Despite the general improvement, severe localized pressure persists in specific urban and suburban hubs. The regions of Montérégie and Laval are currently the most stressed, both reporting a critical stretcher occupancy rate of 116%. The Laurentides region is also operating above capacity at 109%. These figures indicate that while fewer people may be entering the system overall, the acuity or boarding time for patients requiring stretchers remains a significant bottleneck in these high-density sectors.

Regional disparities remain stark across the province. While Montreal handles the highest volume of patients (273 waiting across 21 facilities), its stretcher occupancy is relatively stable at 98%. In contrast, northern and eastern regions like Nord-du-Québec, Bas-Saint-Laurent, and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean are reporting much lower utilization rates, with stretcher occupancy ranging between 39% and 67%. This highlights a continued geographic imbalance where metropolitan peripheries are bearing the brunt of the clinical load.

Individual facility data confirms that Hôpital Charles-Le Moyne in Montérégie is the most strained site, leading the province with 58 patients waiting. Other notable pressure points include Hôpital de Lanaudière and Hôpital Pierre-Boucher, both of which are managing high volumes of both waiting and admitted patients. Of particular concern is the Hôpital de Gatineau in the Outaouais region; despite having only 34 patients waiting, its stretcher occupancy has soared to a staggering 168%, indicating a severe crisis in bed availability for admitted patients.

· MSSS hourly file · Données Québec