Approximately 500,000 Canadians departed emergency rooms without being seen by a physician in 2024, as indicated by a data analysis conducted by CBC’s Marketplace. The numbers reported by British Columbia and Quebec are based on the fiscal calendar, potentially resulting in a higher count. In 2024, Prince Edward Island had the highest percentage of individuals leaving without being seen, at around 14%, followed by Manitoba at approximately 13% and New Brunswick at roughly 12%. Contrarily, Ontario had the lowest rate, at about 5%.
Compared to 2019, the trend of patients leaving before being attended to has escalated, with more than 10% leaving in several regions. Notably, Newfoundland and Labrador witnessed a nearly twofold increase in such incidents since 2019, with over 35,000 people exiting without treatment in 2024. Data analyzed by Marketplace, based on information obtained through freedom of information requests by the Montreal Economic Institute, also reveals a rise in wait times for patients to see a doctor and overall duration spent in the emergency room nationwide.
Dr. Fraser MacKay, an emergency physician in New Brunswick and a board member of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP), attributes this issue to prolonged wait times in emergency departments. MacKay emphasized the complexity of underlying causes, including staff shortages, a shortage of family doctors, and the presence of “boarded patients” stuck in emergency departments awaiting available beds.
In New Brunswick, nearly 60,000 individuals left emergency departments without being seen, reflecting a concerning trend. Susan Gordon, aged 51, shared her regret after leaving the Moncton Hospital emergency department following prolonged wait times, which led to a severe health crisis later. This incident underscores the strain on the healthcare system and the urgent need for improvements to prevent similar occurrences.
The family of Finlay van der Werken, a teenager who tragically passed away after experiencing delays in receiving medical attention at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital in 2024, is advocating for change. The family’s legal action against Halton Healthcare network alleges negligence in Finlay’s care, emphasizing the importance of timely treatment in emergency situations. The push for legislative changes, like Finlay’s Law in Ontario, aims to establish maximum wait times for pediatric patients in emergency rooms to prevent avoidable tragedies.
Despite ongoing efforts to address wait times and improve access to care, the challenges persist, prompting calls for systemic reforms and increased accountability within the healthcare system. The van der Werken family’s advocacy serves as a poignant reminder of the need for proactive measures to safeguard patients and prevent future incidents of this nature.