What is the average wait time for ER in Ontario?
Asked by: Lambert Reynolds | Last update: November 10, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (41 votes)
Which province has the longest ER wait times?
Canada's overall wait time to see an emergency department physician has been steadily falling in the past five years, but not all the provinces are seeing such improvements. Manitoba, which has the highest wait time, with patients commonly waiting up to 5.6 hours, has seen queues consistently rise.
How long can an ER keep you waiting?
In general, the accepted duration of a patient in ED—emergency department length of stay (EDLOS)—is 6 hours. The National Health System of the UK, however, pegs this at 4 hours. A 6 hours wait in ED might be acceptable for a patient being admitted to the wards, but not so for a critically ill patient.
How long do Canadians wait in the ER compared to the US?
Generally longer waits to see an ER doc in Canada than the US. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, average wait times in Canadian ERs in 2021–22 was almost 4 hours, up from 3 hours in 2017–18. In the US, wait times can vary greatly.
Why are ER times so long in Canada?
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.
BREAKING: New data on emergency room wait times in Ontario
Is healthcare better in the USA or Canada?
Compared to the US system, the Canadian system has lower costs, more services, universal access to health care without financial barriers, and superior health status.
Who gets priority in the ER?
Patients with a critical illness or injury are seen first.
What happens if you walk out of ER waiting room?
Leaving the ER before seeing a healthcare provider can result in your condition worsening. Without proper medical evaluation, you might not receive the necessary interventions in time, leading to preventable complications.
What factors increase wait time in the ER?
Longer emergency department wait times are linked to both delays in care and patients leaving the hospital before getting care. The number of patients who need care, the number of available staff and hospital beds, and the amount of time it takes to diagnose patients can all affect emergency department wait times.
What is the shortest ER wait time in Ontario?
🥇 Hornepayne Community Hospital has the shortest maximum emergency wait time at 1.1 hours in Ontario.
Does Canada have long waits for healthcare?
Long wait times have become a defining characteristic of the Canadian health care system. In 2016, the Commonwealth Fund ranked Canada last among 11 countries surveyed on wait times for specialist care.
What is America's busiest ER?
U.S. hospitals with the most annual ED visits 2022
The U.S. hospital with the most emergency department visits in 2022 was Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas, followed by Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, Florida.
Is it normal to wait 6 hours in the ER?
It all depends on how many urgent and emergency cases com into the ER, and how serious the cases are. Six hours or more can sometimes be required to get an opening.
What time is the ER most empty?
From my experience in working in the ER and according to several studies, including a report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the least busy times at the ER are during the early morning hours, specifically between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. During these hours, there are usually fewer patients, leading to ...
What state has the longest ER wait times?
A study released by the Maryland Hospital Association in March 2024 said Maryland had the worst hospital wait times in the country as of 2021. "We were the only state that was 50th in the country in the ED," said State Senator Pam Beidle, who heads the Senate Finance Committee.
Can I leave the ER if the wait is too long?
A common reason is long wait times. 8 You are free to leave but then you may not receive the care you need in a timely manner. Don't leave the hospital without first talking to the ER staff.
Will insurance pay if you leave the ER?
Unless the discharge itself directly impacts the necessity of the treatments provided, your coverage likely remains unaffected.
Can a hospital refuse to admit a patient?
Being refused treatment while seeking immediate medical attention is every patient's worst nightmare. If you're sick, injured, or hurt, can a healthcare organization, like a private doctor, hospital, or family doctor's office, refuse to treat you, even when you have health insurance? The answer, unfortunately, is yes.
What gets you seen faster in ER?
Prioritize Your Symptoms
Describe the severity: Clearly communicate the severity of each symptom. If you are experiencing intense pain or difficulty breathing, make sure to emphasize these symptoms as they may require immediate attention.
What symptoms will get you admitted to the hospital?
- Trouble breathing.
- Passing out, fainting.
- Pain in the arm or jaw.
- Unusual or bad headache, particularly if it started suddenly.
- Dizziness or weakness that does not go away.
- Inhaled smoke or poisonous fumes.
- Sudden confusion.
How long can an ER make you wait?
The time of day, the location, and the severity of the patient's condition are some of the variables that may affect this timeline. Depending on a number of factors that affect how rapidly patients are triaged and treated, the typical Emergency Room wait time nationwide can vary from 15 minutes to more than two hours.
Why is life expectancy higher in Canada than the US?
Factors that account for the difference may include access to health care over the full life span (universal health insurance) and lower levels of social and economic inequality, especially among the elderly.
What part of Canada has the best healthcare?
- B.C. is the top-placing province, scoring an “A” on the health report card and ranking third overall, after Switzerland and Sweden.
- Newfoundland and Labrador, the worst-ranked province, scores a “D-” for placing just below the worst-ranking peer country, the United States.
Do doctors make more in Canada or USA?
The U.S. generally offers lower taxes and higher average salaries across medical specialties. Canadian doctors have lower education, insurance and operational costs.