Why are ER times so long in Canada?

Waiting for emergency care sounds like an oxymoron. But it’s a growing problem as more people rely on emergency departments for even routine care.  

How long are emergency department wait times?  

Recently, some emergency departments have reported average waits for hospital beds as high as 22 hours – nearly three times the recommended targets.  

Still, your wait time can vary a lot depending on when you go (evenings are busiest) and why you go (the most urgent emergencies jump to the front of the line).  

• Half of patients with non-urgent issues are in and out of Canadian emergency departments in less than 2.6 hours, with 90% wrapping up their visit in less than 7.6 hours.  
• Patients who are more seriously ill are seen sooner but stay longer – 50% are done their visit in less than 4.1 hours, while 90% go home in less than 10 hours.  
• Those who need to be moved from the emergency department to a hospital bed wait the longest. Half make the move within 14.7 hours, while 90% are admitted within two days.  

What’s behind the wait?  

While life-threatening cases are prioritized, multiple factors can increase wait times in emergency departments.  

• A lack of access to primary care is leaving more and more Canadians with no other option but to go to the emergency department.
• Emergency departments are getting busier. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, the number of people visiting emergency departments is back to what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. From April 2022 to March 2023, there were over 15.1 million emergency visits in Canada, up from nearly 14 million in the previous year. 
• Hospital staffing shortages and decreased bed capacity mean some patients are staying longer in the emergency department before they can move to a regular bed. And when there aren’t enough staff, some emergency departments are shutting down, sending patients elsewhere.  
• Not enough long-term care and home care means some patients who could leave the hospital are stuck there because they can’t go home alone. This also leads to more people who need hospital beds waiting longer in the emergency department.