Weekly ER Capacity Report — Quebec — 2026-04-13 to 2026-04-19
Emergency departments across Quebec reported slightly higher overall capacity than the previous week and a noticeable increase compared with the same period last year, though regional patterns remained uneven.
Key Metrics
Provincial average ER capacity: 90.0% Same week previous year: 82.5%
Average patients waiting >24 hours: 5.1 Average patients waiting >48 hours: 1.7
Highest reported capacity: 340%
Time Window
Current week: 2026-04-13 → 2026-04-19 Previous week: 2026-04-06 → 2026-04-12 Same week last year: 2025-04-13 → 2025-04-19
Provincial Overview
Emergency departments across Quebec reported higher overall crowding than during the same week last year, with provincial average capacity rising to 90.0%, up from 82.5%.
Indicators tied to prolonged emergency department stays also increased on a year-over-year basis. The average number of patients waiting more than 24 hours rose from 4.1 to 5.1, while those waiting more than 48 hours increased from 1.3 to 1.7.
Compared with the previous week, however, conditions were relatively stable. Average capacity edged up slightly from 89.3%, while the number of patients waiting more than 24 hours remained unchanged at 5.1 after rounding. The number waiting more than 48 hours declined modestly from 1.9.
Overall, the data point to a system operating at a higher baseline level of demand than a year earlier, but without significant short-term shifts from the prior week.
Week-Over-Week Change
Week-over-week changes were modest at the provincial level, though individual regions moved in different directions.
In Outaouais, average capacity declined from 84.6% to 78.0%, accompanied by reductions in both patients waiting more than 24 hours (5.1 → 4.2) and more than 48 hours (2.1 → 1.7).
A similar easing was observed in Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, where average capacity fell from 57.5% to 49.2%, alongside decreases in prolonged stays.
By contrast, Chaudière-Appalaches reported higher capacity, rising from 118.0% to 129.6%, with increases in patients waiting more than 24 hours (6.6 → 8.4). Laurentides also moved upward, from 128.0% to 142.5%, although its longest waits declined slightly.
These short-term movements remain consistent with normal operational variation across regions.
Regional Standouts
While week-to-week changes were limited, the year-over-year comparison shows clearer regional contrasts.
Largest Year-Over-Year Improvements
Estrie reported one of the more notable improvements, with average capacity declining from 82.4% to 72.7%. Prolonged-stay indicators also moved slightly lower.
Outaouais also recorded lower overall capacity compared with last year (82.0% → 78.0%), though the number of patients waiting more than 48 hours increased, indicating mixed pressure indicators.
Regions With Increased Pressure
Laurentides showed the largest increase in average capacity, rising from 115.4% to 142.5%. The number of patients waiting more than 24 hours also edged higher, while the longest waits declined modestly.
Lanaudière increased from 92.8% to 108.7%, with a marked rise in patients waiting more than 24 hours.
Among larger regions, Montréal and Montérégie both reported higher capacity than a year earlier, along with increases in patients waiting more than 24 hours.
Mixed Signals
Several regions showed divergent trends across indicators.
For example, Outaouais reported lower overall capacity but higher prolonged waits, while Laurentides combined higher capacity with a slight reduction in the longest delays.
These patterns illustrate how emergency department pressure can shift across different measures, even when provincial averages move in a single direction.
Data Coverage
This analysis includes emergency department reporting across Quebec for 2026-04-13 to 2026-04-19.
- Regions analyzed: 16
- Emergency department installations: 115
- Total records analyzed: 19,301
Comparison period (2025-04-13 to 2025-04-19):
- Regions analyzed: 15
- Installations: 114
- Records analyzed: 7,459
The dataset represents complete provincial coverage for the current period. One administrative region reported no installations, and one region was not represented in the year-earlier comparison period.
Methodology
This article summarizes emergency department operational data across Quebec for two matching seven-day periods and the immediately preceding week.
Provincial averages are calculated as record-weighted means across all reporting installations.
Reported maximum and minimum values represent the highest and lowest observations recorded during the week.
All metrics reflect reported operational load only and should not be interpreted as measures of clinical safety.
Informational Use Statement
This summary is based on publicly reported emergency department data and is provided for informational purposes only.
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