The week ending May 4, 2026, observed a net increase in emergency room demand across Quebec. While the average stretcher occupancy rate showed a slight technical decrease from 79% to 72% at the close of the week, the underlying patient volume tells a different story: the total number of patients physically present in ERs rose by over 200 individuals, and the number of people waiting for a physician increased from 1,387 to 1,417. This suggests that while stretcher throughput improved slightly, the administrative and diagnostic load on medical staff intensified compared to the start of the week.
Regional disparities remain stark, particularly in the Greater Montréal area and its periphery. Montréal continues to handle the highest absolute volume with 249 patients waiting, but the most severe saturation is currently seen in Laval and Chaudière-Appalaches. Laval’s single facility reported a critical stretcher occupancy rate of 145%, while Chaudière-Appalaches reached 114%. Similarly, the Laurentides region is operating at near-maximum capacity at 99%, driven largely by high demand at Hôpital de Saint-Jérôme. Conversely, northern and eastern regions such as Nord-du-Québec and Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine maintain manageable levels of occupancy below 50%.
Institutional data highlights specific facilities under extreme duress. Hôpital de la Cité-de-la-Santé and Hôpital de Gatineau are currently the busiest sites in the province by wait volume. Furthermore, pediatric services at CHU Sainte-Justine in Montréal are facing significant pressure, with 38 patients waiting and a stretcher occupancy of 131%. The persistent overcrowding in these specific hubs suggests a need for targeted patient diversion strategies to mitigate the load on over-capacity suburban hospitals.