Situation in Quebec emergency rooms seems to be stabilizing, but remains critical

As March approaches, Santé Québec notes a stabilization of the situation in emergency rooms, and even an improvement in some regions. But the situation remains critical, especially in the Montreal region.

Across Quebec, the stretcher occupancy rate was 121.7 per cent from Feb. 25 to March 4. The previous week, it exceeded 126 per cent.

In Montreal, the occupancy rate exceeds 135 per cent, while it was over 138 per cent a week earlier.

Emergency rooms in the Laval, Lanaudière, Laurentides and Montérégie regions are overflowing even more, despite a clear improvement: the rate is at 139.7 per cent, compared to 146.2 per cent during the week of Feb. 12 to 24.

Although an improvement is reported, the figures remain higher than last year. From Feb. 18 to March 3, 2025, the stretcher occupancy rate in Quebec reached 124 per cent, an increase of 14 per cent compared to 2023-2024.

As for hospital visits per day, their number reached 10,014 in the last week for all of Quebec, compared to 10,143 a week earlier. In Montreal, there were 2,417, which is an increase compared to the 2,372 visits recorded the previous week.

In the emergency rooms of the Laval, Lanaudière, Laurentides, Montérégie regions, they remained virtually unchanged, going from 2,243 the week of Feb. 12 to 24 to 2,231 from Feb. 25 to March 4.

In its press release, Santé Québec notes that February is usually the busiest month in hospitals.

“For the staff and doctors in the field, but also for the population, the data presented this week show encouraging signs,” said Véronique Wilson, Deputy Director General of Network Coordination and Operations Support at Santé Québec, in a press release.

However, she says that too many people still go to the emergency room for health problems that could be treated elsewhere.

“For example, if you have symptoms such as a sore throat, fever or pain when swallowing, you can get tested for streptococcus. It is possible to do this at a local service point by making an appointment on Clic Santé. If the test is positive, you will be given a prescription for the necessary antibiotics,” she said.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews