Number of patients leaving Quebec emergency departments before being seen on the rise
The number of patients leaving emergency departments before being taken care of is on the rise in Quebec, according to the results of a study by the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) published Thursday.
In 2023-2024, over a period of approximately 11 months, 3.2 million patients visited Quebec's emergency departments, and 11.5 per cent of them, or 376,460 people, left before receiving medical attention.
By comparison, in 2018-2019, it was just over 10 per cent, or 378,348 patients out of a total of 3.7 million visits.
"One person in two waits more than five hours in the emergency department in Quebec. It's not surprising that many will leave," said study author Emmanuelle B. Faubert.
Patients referred to another health-care professional who can meet their needs are not counted in these data, as they are considered to have been taken into care.
"This is still an increase because the study period in 2023-2024 is 11 months. So we see that in 11 months (...) we have essentially the same number of patients who left the ER before treatment compared to (a period) of one year five years ago," said Faubert. "That's still a problem, considering the increased budgets we're putting into health care and all the reforms we're making every year."
She is particularly concerned about the 103,715 patients in categories P1, P2 and P3, which correspond to the most urgent cases. According to data she obtained from the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, 25.3 per cent of Priority 3 patients left the emergency department before receiving medical care, 2.2 per cent of P2 patients and 0.03 per cent of P1 patients.
The proportion of P1 to P3 patients who left the emergency department because they had not consulted a professional available to treat them rose from 21.9 per cent in 2018-2019 to 27.5 per cent in 2023-2024.
"This is a big problem because it shows that our health-care system is incapable of taking care of Quebecers. And it's dangerous when you consider that the population is aging and needs are increasing," said Faubert.
For less urgent cases (P4 and P5), over 70 per cent of patients decided to leave the ER without being treated.
"People who aren't (urgent cases) don't go (to the ER) for a walk in the park. They go there because they need help, they need care, whether it's urgent or not. They go there because they can't find a better option elsewhere because we have a problem of access to the front line," the economist said.
She pointed out that a patient who leaves without treatment runs the risk of worsening his or her condition and returning to the emergency department as a more complex case.
Specialized nurse practitioner (SNP) clinics can be part of the solution, according to Faubert. There are 11 in the province, and their number is expected to double by 2028, but the economist believes that more need to be deployed, more quickly.
She also described as "excellent news" the expansion of diagnostics to other health-care professionals, including pharmacists and nurses, included in the recently passed Bill 67.
"This is a step in the right direction," she says.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 20, 2024.
Canadian Press health content receives funding through partnership with Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for editorial choices.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard found not guilty of sexual assault
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
Police arrest Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
Missing B.C. climber died from fall on Mount Baker, medical examiner says
The body of a British Columbia mountain climber has been located and recovered after the 39-year-old man was reported missing during a solo climb on Washington state's Mount Baker earlier this week.
Following child's death in Ontario, here's what you need to know about rabies and bats
An Ontario child died last month after coming into contact with a rabid bat in their bedroom, which was the first known human rabies case in Canada since 2019.
A French judge in a shocking rape case allows the public to see some of the video evidence
A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes.
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years for voting data scheme
A judge ripped into a Colorado county clerk for her crimes and lies before sentencing her Thursday to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race.
Anne Hathaway confirms 'Princess Diaries 3': 'Miracles happen'
You might be thinking, 'Shut up!' but it’s officially true: the 'Princess Diaries' franchise is finally growing.
Youth pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of P.E.I. teen Tyson MacDonald
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Sask. man pleads guilty in U.S. after unknowingly providing videos of men raping toddlers to FBI agent
A Saskatchewan man living in the United States has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography after he unknowingly provided disturbing videos to an FBI agent he thought was a pedophile.