Weekly ER Capacity Report — Quebec — 2026-03-30 to 2026-04-05
Emergency department activity declined slightly from the previous week, though several regions continued to report elevated levels of demand compared with the same period last year.
Key Metrics
Provincial average ER capacity: 84.0% Same week previous year: 79.6%
Average patients waiting more than 24 hours: 4.4 Average patients waiting more than 48 hours: 1.6
Highest reported capacity during the week: 270%
Time Window
This analysis covers:
Current week: March 30 to April 5, 2026
Comparisons: Previous week: March 23 to March 29, 2026 Same week last year: March 30 to April 5, 2025
Provincial Overview
Emergency departments across Quebec reported higher overall crowding compared with the same week one year earlier, while showing a modest easing relative to the previous week.
The provincial average capacity reached 84.0%, up from 79.6% during the same period in 2025.
Indicators associated with prolonged stays also moved slightly upward. The average number of patients waiting more than 24 hours was 4.4, compared with 4.1 a year earlier, while the average number waiting more than 48 hours was 1.6, compared with 1.5.
Overall, these measures indicate a moderate increase in reported operational load compared with last year, despite short-term week-to-week variation.
Week-Over-Week Change
Comparing the week of March 30 to April 5 with the preceding week shows a modest decline in overall crowding.
The provincial average capacity decreased from 86.3% to 84.0%, while the average number of patients waiting more than 24 hours declined from 4.7 to 4.4. The number of patients waiting more than 48 hours increased slightly, from 1.5 to 1.6.
Changes at the regional level varied.
In Côte-Nord, average capacity declined from 79.4% to 65.3%, alongside reductions in prolonged waits. In Laurentides, average capacity increased from 116.4% to 130.0%, with relatively stable prolonged-stay indicators.
Short-term fluctuations of this kind are consistent with normal operational variation across reporting periods.
Regional Standouts
While several regions reported lower crowding than the previous year, others recorded notable increases.
Largest Year-Over-Year Improvements
Outaouais reported a decline in average capacity from 85.3% to 76.6%, with prolonged-stay indicators remaining relatively stable.
Estrie also showed lower reported crowding, with average capacity decreasing from 72.1% to 63.6%, accompanied by reductions in both 24-hour and 48-hour wait indicators.
Regions With Increased Pressure
Lanaudière recorded a substantial increase in average capacity, rising from 82.4% to 106.7%. Prolonged waits also increased during the same period.
Montérégie reported higher average capacity, increasing from 107.0% to 120.4%, alongside increases in both 24-hour and 48-hour wait indicators.
Mixed Signals
Some regions displayed mixed trends. In Laurentides, average capacity increased from 117.3% to 130.0%, while prolonged waits declined.
This variation highlights how regional conditions can diverge even when provincial averages move in a single direction.
Data Coverage
This analysis includes emergency department reporting across Quebec for the week of March 30 to April 5, 2026.
- Regions analyzed: 16
- Emergency department installations: 115
- Total records analyzed: 19,310
For the comparison period (March 30 to April 5, 2025):
- Regions analyzed: 15
- Emergency department installations: 114
- Total records analyzed: 6,351
One additional region reported data in the current period compared with the previous year.
Methodology
This report summarizes emergency department operational data across Quebec for two comparable seven-day periods and the immediately preceding week.
Provincial averages are calculated as record-weighted means across all reporting installations.
Reported maximum values represent the highest observed readings across the province during the week.
Capacity levels and prolonged-stay counts reflect reported operational conditions only and do not indicate clinical outcomes or quality of care.
Informational Use Statement
This summary is based on publicly reported emergency department data and is provided for informational purposes only.