The emergency room situation in Quebec for the week ending April 6, 2026, shows a slight upward trend in patient volume and persistent pressure on urban centers. While the total number of facilities remained constant at 116, the number of patients waiting for a doctor rose from 1,318 at the start of the week to 1,370 by the end. Similarly, the total population of patients physically present in ERs (inER) increased by approximately 4%, reaching 3,746. Despite this rise in volume, the average provincial stretcher occupancy showed a marginal improvement, dipping from 75% to 74% over the seven-day period. (estimate)
Regional disparities continue to define the healthcare landscape. The Greater Montreal area, Laval, and Montérégie are facing the most significant strain. Laval is particularly concerning, with its single reporting facility, Hôpital de la Cité-de-la-Santé, operating at a staggering 135% stretcher occupancy. Montréal and Montérégie also remain in critical territory, with regional stretcher rates of 105% and 99% respectively. In contrast, peripheral regions such as Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine (39%) and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean (44%) report much lower occupancy levels, suggesting that the current surge is localized to the province's high-density corridors.
At the institutional level, Hôpital Charles-Le Moyne in Montérégie currently leads the province in patient backlog with 51 individuals waiting. However, the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal presents the most severe overcrowding metric with a stretcher occupancy rate of 189%, nearly double its intended capacity. Other major pressure points include Hôpital de Saint-Jérôme and Hôpital de la Cité-de-la-Santé, both of which are managing high waiting lists alongside stretcher occupancy rates exceeding 135%. These figures indicate a significant bottleneck in transitioning patients from emergency departments to inpatient wards in these specific urban hubs.