ERs in Montreal and 450 region ‘fragile’: Santé Québec

Emergency rooms in the province continue to run at overcapacity, and in some areas like Montreal and the 450 region – Laval, Lanaudière, and the Laurentians – the situation is being called “fragile.”

“The occupancy rates on stretchers in Quebec are at its highest level in the last five years,” said Robin Marie Coleman, Santé Québec’s assistant vice-president of access and care pathway co-ordination. “This is mainly due to the situation in the Greater Montreal area.”

Santé Québec holding it’s fourth press briefing of the new year on the situation as the province sees a rise in viruses spreading – as well as nasal congestion, coughs and fevers.

On Friday morning, the provincial average was 115 per cent, while Montreal was at 139 per cent.

“The situation remains fragile in the 450 and Montreal area,” added Coleman.

In Montreal Friday at 9:30 a.m., Index santé listed the Royal Victoria Hospital and the Lakeshore at 200 per cent overcapacity, the Montreal General at 190 per cent, and Santa Cabrini at 176 per cent.

In Laval, the ERs at 139 per cent overcapacity, the Laurentians at 160 per cent, Lanaudière at 117 per cent, and the Montérégie at 125 per cent.

For Montreal, the situation has worsened year-over-year, from 115 per cent in 2023 to 127 percent in 2023-2024 and 141 per cent this year. On the average, there is a 4.4 per cent increase compared to the same time last year. While the Montérégie, Laval, Laurentians and Lanaudière regions went from 137 per cent in 2023-2024 to 132 per cent in 2024-2025.

“These additional visits put a lot of pressure on the hospital staff in the emergency rooms. So when we look at the global picture of emergency room visits in the province, we observe that the Montreal and the 450 region, as we were mentioning last week, the largest daily increase in visits,” explained Coleman.

“We need to really analyze all the different statistics and make sure that we recognize that the situation is different in different areas of the province.”

She says that the initial number of ER visits are partly explained – as Santé Québec has said before – by the increased population, increased aging population, and more complex needs in certain regions of Quebec.

“We once again reiterated that there are different options that are available for patients that have non-urgent needs, such as Info-Santé 811, option one, primary care access points, example – your family doctor. We had the chance to speak with a pharmacist a couple weeks ago that shared with you lots of offers that are available in your local pharmacy and also your CLSC. And there’s different clinics available…[like] pediatric clinics that can help with issues with the children.”

Santé Québec says it will update the situation once again next Friday.

“Remember, once again, if your health situation is worrisome, if you need to consult the emergency room, don’t hesitate to do so,” said Coleman.