The week ending June 22, 2026, showed a notable decrease in volume within Quebec’s emergency departments despite persistent localized saturation. The number of patients waiting to be seen dropped by approximately 27% over the seven-day period, starting at 1,060 and closing at 769. While the total number of patients physically in the ER also saw a slight decline from 2,828 to 2,726, the provincial stretcher occupancy rate actually tightened, rising from 68% at the start of the week to 75% by the end. (estimate)
Regional disparities remain stark across the province. Greater Montreal and its surrounding belts continue to carry the heaviest burden. Laval is currently the most pressured region with a 120% stretcher occupancy rate, followed closely by Montérégie (111%) and the Laurentides (107%). In contrast, remote and northern regions like Nord-du-Québec and Côte-Nord maintain very manageable levels, while Mauricie et Centre-du-Québec reported no waiting patients at the time of the final snapshot.
Specific facilities are operating well beyond their intended capacity, posing significant logistical challenges for staff. The Hôpital Royal Victoria in Montréal is a major concern, operating at 164% stretcher capacity. Other high-pressure points include Hôpital Anna-Laberge at 122% and Hôpital de la Cité-de-la-Santé at 120%. These figures suggest that while the number of incoming patients (the 'waiting' list) has decreased, the throughput for admitted patients onto wards remains a significant bottleneck.
The top 10 busiest hospitals are dominated by the Montérégie region, which currently hosts four of the most congested facilities including Hôpital Pierre-Boucher and Hôpital Charles-Le Moyne. The Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) reported the highest raw number of patients waiting at 44. Healthcare administrators should focus resources on these high-occupancy zones where stretcher saturation consistently exceeds 100%, as these environments are most prone to service delays and staff burnout.