Skip to main content

Parents with sick kids experiencing long delays on Info-sante 811 phone line

Share

As respiratory viruses spread in children during cold and flu season, it's not just the emergency rooms in pediatric hospitals that are overwhelmed.

The pediatric 811 phone line is, too, with some parents waiting up to two hours to speak to a nurse.

The average wait time Wednesday was about 35 minutes, but in some cases, especially in the evenings, the wait time could much longer.

The phone line was put into place to help avoid unnecessary visits to the ER, with nurses giving advice over the phone.

CTV News spoke to one mother whose daughter has severe asthma. She said she called 811 last week and waited at least an hour.

Watch the video above for the full report from CTV News Montreal's Amanada Kline. 

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

BREAKING

BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Stay Connected