Nearly half a million Canadians left the emergency room last year before seeing a doctor; An unprecedented crisis in the medical system

New data analysis by CBC Marketplace shows that by 2024, about 500,000 Canadians will have left hospital emergency departments without being seen by a doctor.
The statistics, which include data from most provinces and territories, show a significant increase in a deep and growing problem in the country's health care system.

Since the provinces of British Columbia and Quebec report by fiscal year, including part of 2025, the actual figure is likely to be much higher.

Which provinces have the highest number of patients leaving?

Based on the data:

Prince Edward Island: About 14% leave before visiting

Manitoba: about 13%

New Brunswick: about 12%

Ontario: Lowest rate at around 5%

In some provinces, this trend has almost doubled since 2019.
For example, in Newfoundland and Labrador alone, more than 35,000 people will leave the emergency room in 2024 before seeing a doctor.

Why is this happening?

Emergency doctors say the root of the problem is long waits.
Dr. Fraser McKay of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians says:

"Almost every day, I face patients who came the day before, couldn't stand it and left; And now they have returned with a worse condition."

Lack of family doctors, lack of hospital personnel, and hospitalized patients who remain in the emergency department due to the lack of beds ("boarded patients") are among the most important factors.

The impact of this crisis on patients; From unnecessary suffering to preventable deaths

The Marketplace report examines several shocking examples:

Example 1 - New Brunswick

51-year-old Susan Gordon left the emergency room after three hours of waiting and crowded conditions.
But a few months later, he returned to the hospital in critical condition and found out that he had severe appendicitis.

He says:

"Now that I know, I put myself in serious danger ... the system is really broken."

Example 2 - The heartbreaking death of a 16-year-old teenager

The family of "Finley Van Drerken" in Ontario recounts that their son was taken to the OTMH emergency room with severe abdominal pain, but waited for 8 hours and 22 minutes.
While according to the "emergency" level of triage, he should have been seen by a doctor 15 minutes later.

After hours of waiting, he developed sepsis and died.
The family has now filed a lawsuit against Halton Healthcare Network, calling for Finley's Law to set maximum waiting times for children in emergency rooms.

The reaction of the provinces and the Ministry of Health

Ontario's health ministry says it has made "record investments" over the past three years, but acknowledges more needs to be done.

In Manitoba, it has been announced that more than 320 new beds and 3,400 medical personnel have been added since 2023.

But doctors believe that the current measures are not enough and the system needs a serious revision.

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